The first Rainforest Alliance workshop to develop Interpretation Guidelines for applying the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) Standard to Rooibos took place on 7 July 2011 in Clanwilliam.

Handbook for Implementing Rooibos Sustainability Standards was recently published to assist producers in implementing better farm practices.

Rooibos Health Research in Scientific Literature [See Research References]

Scientists around the world are working on Rooibos to gain a better understanding of this unique, South African herbal tea. Some are investigating the health benefits of Rooibos and its potential to combat a range of diseases, while others are trying to understand exactly how the bioactive components in Rooibos work.

Scientific articles published over the last decade prove the therapeutic ability of Rooibos to fight cancer, protect the liver against disease, boost the immune system, as well as to relieve allergies and treat digestive disorders. The research studies summarised below show that the beneficial effects of Rooibos have been well documented and established in the international scientific literature.

The Rooibos Council operates to promote the interests of the South African Rooibos industry through a representative platform and by acting as mouthpiece for its members.

To enhance support and streamline service delivery to the industry, the Council, through its elected Board of Directors, actively engages and cooperates with key external interest groups such as regional and national government, as well as research, food safety, certification, and conservation agencies for the collective benefit of the industry.