Notifications for South Africa (61 notifications)

The amendment to the Regulations Relating to the Application of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point System (HACCP System), R908 of 2003 makes provision for mandatory application of a HACCP System by the food handling enterprises listed in Annex B.

This Compulsory Specification requires that canned fish, canned marine molluscs and canned crustaceans and products derived therefrom, for human consumption, which are to be offered for sale, comply with this Compulsory Specification and the requirements of the latest edition of the South African National Standard (SANS) 587 that apply to the manufacture, production, processing, and treatment of the products covered by this specification. The hygiene requirements for the product, as well as chemical and microbiological contaminant requirements for the product, and the requirements for employees at the packing facility, shall comply with the requirements of the latest edition of SANS 587.

This compulsory specification requires that aquacultured live and chilled raw bivalve molluscs for human consumption which are offered for sale, comply with the chemical, marine biotoxins and microbiological requirements for disease-causing organisms outlined in the referenced SANS 2879, read together with the shellfish monitoring programme and relevant technical regulations.The date for comments has been extended to 17 January 2018.

The amendment of the Regulations relating to Preservatives and Antioxidants aims to include Propionic acid as a preservative for bread.

This regulation outlines the administrative regulatory requirements of fish and fishery products and canned meat products regulated under the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications Act, 2008 (Act No. 5 of 2008) as amended through the Legal Metrology Act (Act No. 9 of 2014), which are imported into the Republic of South Africa (RSA). The main requirements include that the Competent Authority in the exporting country issues a health certificate/guarantee for each consignment exported to South Africa and lists approved establishments.

This compulsory specification requires that aquacultured live and chilled raw bivalves molluscs for human consumption which are offered for sale, complies with the chemical, marine biotoxins and microbiological requirements for disease-causing organisms outlined in the referenced SANS 2879, read together with the shellfish monitoring programme and relevant technical regulations.

Due to the transportable nature and increasingly intricate travel history of domestic dogs between different countries, South Africa is applying precautionary sanitary measures by removing the option of not testing for diseases of concern if the country claims freedom from any particular disease of concern. The following five diseases require official pre-export testing within 30 days prior to export at a government approved laboratory, for domestic dogs: "Brucella canis, Babesia gibsoni, Dirofilaria immitis, Leishmania and Trypanosomiasis". All other South African import requirements for domestic dogs must also be adhered to.

Following a notification published by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) regarding the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus (HPAI) in poultry in Belgium, South Africa is applying precautionary sanitary measures to prevent the risk of introducing HPAI virus through the imports of live birds and their products from Belgium. These measures include temporary bans on the importation of live poultry, pigeons and other birds, eggs (excluding SPF eggs) fresh (including frozen) poultry meat from Belgium.

Following a notification published by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) regarding the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus (HPAI) in poultry in Zimbabwe, South Africa is applying precautionary sanitary measures to prevent the risk of introducing HPAI virus through the imports of live birds and their products from Zimbabwe. These measures include temporary bans on the importation of live poultry, pigeons and other birds, eggs (excluding SPF eggs) and fresh (including frozen) poultry meat from Zimbabwe.

The proposed Draft amendment to the Regulation makes provision for the maximum limits for pesticide residues in foodstuffs under the control of the Department of Health, in terms of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act 54 of 1972).

Following notifications published by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) regarding outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus (HPAI) in poultry in France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom, South Africa is applying precautionary sanitary measures to prevent the risk of introducing HPAI virus through the imports of live birds and their products from Spain. These measures include temporary bans on the importation of live poultry, pigeons and other birds, eggs (excluding SPF eggs) fresh and frozen poultry meat from France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Following notifications published by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) regarding outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus (HPAI) in poultry in the United States of America, South Africa is applying precautionary sanitary measures to prevent the risk of introducing HPAI virus through the imports of day old chicks and poultry meat from the state of Tennessee in the United States of America. These measures include temporary bans on the importation of day old chicks and poultry meat from the state of Tennessee in the United States of America.

Item 6 of G/SPS/N/ZAF/42 should read: 6. Description of content: The acquisition, import, export, possession, sale, use and disposal of agricultural remedies containing the chemical substances listed below is prohibited in South Africa: - Aldicarb; - Aldrin; - Azinphos-ethyl; - Binapacryl; - Camphechlor (CLC); - Captafol; - Chlordimeform; - Chlorobenzilate; - Dibromochloropropane; - Dinitro-ortho-cresol (DNOC); - Dinoseb; - Endrin; - Heptachlor; - Hexachlorobenzene; - Kepone; - Phosphamidon; - Phosphorus containing formulations; - Propham. Item 9 of G/SPS/N/ZAF/42 should read: 9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: None

The Regulations make provision for the reduction of Sodium in certain Foodstuffs and related matters under the control of the Department of Health, in terms of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act 54 of 1972) to comply with the implementation of the (a) Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, and (b) Global strategy for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, as well as related matters (labelling), as outlined in these regulations.

The proposed Regulations make provision for the maximum levels of metals in foodstuffs under the control of the Department of Health, in terms of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act 54 of 1972).

The Regulations make provision for the Maximum Levels of Fungus-Produced Toxins in Foodstuffs under the control of the Department of Health, in terms of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act No. 54 of 1972).

The Compulsory Specification for Live Lobsters has been published and will come into effect six months after the date of publication. http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/ZAF/16_3537_00_e.pdf

The veterinary health certificate notified in G/SPS/N/ZAF/43 has been slightly modified following comments received. The processing requirement in our general certificate for the import of porcine casings into South Africa states: Salting for at least 30 days either with phosphate supplemented dry salt or saturated brine (Aw

The draft regulations require the mandatory fortification of maize meal and wheat flour with vitamins and minerals (excluding those maize and wheat products as specified in the definitions for maize meal and wheat flour).