Procedure

Upon application for a trading permit, the applicant is required to provide detailed personal information, proof of registration with the MET, as well as the location from which the Devil’s Claw will be purchased.

This information will not only provide traceability of the traded material but will also facilitate the MET’s role in monitoring that sustainable harvesting methods are used.

An important condition linked to trading permits is the ‘report back’, which provides information on the amount of material traded, the locality from which it was sourced, and the harvester from whom the material was bought.

The harvest season is defined as being from 1st March to 31st October each year.

While most of the harvesting activity will take place in the first part of the harvest season, the processing and trading of the material could take place until the end of October.

The report back must be submitted to the MET within one month of the close of the harvest season, i.e., before the end of November. Individuals or organisations applying for a permit to trade in Devil’s Claw will need to register with the MET before submitting a permit application.

Proof of valid registration must be submitted with the application for a permit. Individuals or organisations wanting to trade (buy and sell) Devil’s Claw will be required to indicate on their permit application form from which area they intend to purchase material.

Traders purchasing Devil’s Claw will be required to keep a record of all transactions, including permit numbers and names of persons from whom material was bought, the quantity of material purchased with each transaction, and were the material was harvested.

A trader will be required to complete the details of transactions with harvesters on the harvesters’ report back forms, and to sign accordingly. A trader is required to submit the report back to the MET within one month of the close of the harvest season, i.e., before the end of November.