In 2019, the rooibos industry, the National Khoi and San Council, and the South African San Council signed an access and benefit-sharing (ABS) agreement, which will see the Khoi and San communities share in the profits of the rooibos industry, who benefit from their traditional knowledge of the tea and the commercial use of the plant. The R12.2 million sum is the first tranche of the access and benefit-sharing fund, following years of negotiations stretching back to 2014 when the South African government recognised the Khoi and San as the rightful traditional knowledge holders of rooibos. The South African Rooibos Council (SARC) said the agreement would see all volumes of rooibos sold levied through one process. It said a benefit-sharing levy of 1.5% of the farm gate price of rooibos would be paid out into a trust annually, estimated at R12 million a year.