BiodiComply SAWho it is for
Anyone who grows, sells, moves or exports plants and wants to stay on the right side of the rules before something goes wrong.
Farmers and smallholders
Check a crop, hedge or windbreak species before you plant it, and what clearing rules apply to your land.
Nurseries and garden centres
See whether a plant may be sold, propagated or moved, before it goes on the shelf or in the delivery truck.
Landscapers and contractors
Know which species you must control or remove, and which you must not plant for a client.
Transporters and traders
Some plants may not be carried at all, even short distances. Find out before the trip.
Exporters
Find out whether an export triggers a permit or an environmental screening step.
Anyone buying land
Understand which invasive plants on a property carry a duty to control them.
How it works
Three short steps. The same on WhatsApp and on the web.
Send a plant name
Type the scientific or the common name, such as wattle or Acacia. Pick the right match from the list.
Answer a few questions
Tell us what you want to do (grow, sell, transport or export), what kind of land it is and where you are. You see the price before you confirm.
Get your result
A clear answer for each law, the contact for your regional DFFE or DALRRD office, and a PDF copy if you want one.
What we check
Your answer is based on the official lists and regulations, one clear verdict per law.
NEMBA: alien and invasive species
Whether the plant is on the national invasive species list (categories 1a, 1b, 2 or 3) and what that means for growing, trading, moving and controlling it.
CARA: weeds and invader plants
The rules of the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act for weeds and invader plants, including transport and land use and clearing.
DFFE: screening and permits
Whether an environmental screening or bio-prospecting risk applies to what you plan to do, with a link to the DFFE Screening Tool.
Who to contact near you
The regional DFFE or DALRRD office for your province and district, with phone, email and application form where we have them.
Two ways to use it
Use whichever suits you. Your credits are tied to your mobile number, so they work in both.
On WhatsApp
Message +27 79 740 9606 and answer in the chat. Nothing to install, and you can ask for the result as a PDF in the same conversation.
On the web
Log in with your mobile number and a PIN, buy credits, run checks and download the PDF report. Works on any phone or computer. Forgot your PIN? A one-time code is sent to your WhatsApp.
Simple pricing
You pay only for the checks you run. One credit costs R50 (prices below are at that rate), and the price of each check is shown before you confirm.
| Check | Credits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| NEMBA Plant Status Check | 1 | R50 |
| CARA Transport Permit Check | 1 | R50 |
| CARA Land Use Check | 2 | R100 |
| DFFE Bio-prospecting Risk Check | 2 | R100 |
| Full Farm Compliance Report (all of the above) | 5 | R250 |
The PDF copy of a result you have paid for costs nothing extra. You can pay by bank transfer, and more payment options are being added. See the refund policy.
Please read: what this tool is, and is not
- General guidance, not legal advice. Always confirm with DFFE or your provincial DALRRD office before you act on a permit decision.
- Exemptions are not checked. Existing plantations, sterile cultivars and hybrids, and fruit grown for consumption can be exempt. If one applies to you, the result may be stricter than the law requires.
- Only listed plants are covered. The tool covers plants on the national invasive species list and the CARA weed and invader plant tables. "No match" does not mean a plant is unregulated.
- Regional contacts are still being completed. Where a contact has not been verified against the official directory, the result says so.
Questions
Short answers to what people ask most.
Which plants are covered?
Plants on the national Alien and Invasive Species List 1 (2020, GN 1003) and the CARA Regulation 15 weed and invader plant tables. Search by scientific or common name.
What if my plant is not found?
It is not on these lists, so these rules do not name it. That is not a guarantee that nothing applies. Check with DFFE or your provincial DALRRD office if you are unsure.
How much does a check cost?
From 1 credit (R50) for a single-law check, up to 5 credits (R250) for the full report. Buying credits in packs is cheaper per credit.
Can I get the result as a PDF?
Yes. On WhatsApp, reply PDF after a result. On the web, use the download button. It costs nothing extra.
I forgot my PIN. What do I do?
On the login screen choose "Forgot your PIN?". A one-time code is sent to the WhatsApp number on your account. Type it with your new PIN and you are back in.
Is my information safe?
We keep only what the service needs, such as your mobile number and your checks, and we handle it under POPIA. Read the privacy policy and the terms.
Who runs BiodiComply SA?
BiodiComply SA (Pty) Ltd, registration no. 2026/657687/07, based in Sandton, Johannesburg. For help, call or WhatsApp +27 82 534 5754 (08:00 to 18:00) or email irenetsele@gmail.com.
Check your first plant today
It takes a few minutes. Send a plant name and see whether you need a permit.