South Africa
No agreement yet · Strong coverage
Laws, documents and trade data — no screening rules yet
Screening rules for this market aren't available yet, so product screening skips it.
Market profile
- Main food law
- Act 54 of 1972 (FCD Act); APS Act
- Labeling regulation
- R146/2010 (+R45/2012)
- Additives and residue limits
- R733/2011, R965/1977, R1055/1996; pesticide MRL regs (amd 2024)
- Import requirements
- Import permit (Dept of Agriculture); SARS registration; NRCS for canned/frozen fish & meat
- National standards body
- SABS (SANS) — paywalled
- Latest USDA FAIRS report
- 2026
Certificates required
- South Africa NRCS Letter of Authority / DALRRD import permit — Mandatory (Applies to: Canned meat, canned/frozen fish (NRCS); animal & plant products (DALRRD permits))
- Veterinary health certificate (products of animal origin) — Mandatory (Applies to: Animal products under veterinary import permit)
- Phytosanitary certificate (IPPC / ePhyto) — Mandatory (Applies to: Plant products under plant import permit)
- Health certificate (food export, fit for human consumption) — Commonly requested (Applies to: Processed foods (per importer/DoH))
- Certificate of origin – non-preferential — Mandatory (Applies to: All imports)
- Other FTA origin certificates (ASEAN Form D, RCEP, AfCFTA, China FTA Form E etc.) — Mandatory (Applies to: SADC/AfCFTA goods claiming preference)
- FSSC 22000 — Commonly requested (Applies to: Retail suppliers)
- GLOBALG.A.P. IFA — Commonly requested (Applies to: Fresh produce)
Import and export
Documents to import
- Commercial invoice — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory
- Packing list — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory
- Bill of lading / airway bill / road manifest — Issued by: Carrier — Mandatory
- Customs declaration (import) — Issued by: SARS Customs (SAD 500) — Mandatory
- Importer / customs client registration — Issued by: SARS Customs (DA 185 registration) — Mandatory
- Certificate of origin (incl. preferential forms) — Issued by: Exporting-country chamber/customs — Conditional
- Veterinary health certificate (exporting country) — Issued by: Exporting-country veterinary authority — Conditional
- Phytosanitary certificate — Issued by: Exporting-country NPPO — Conditional
- NRCS import approval / letter of authority & inspection — Issued by: National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) Food & Associated Industries — Conditional
- Port Health inspection / release — Issued by: Department of Health - Port Health Services (Foodstuffs Act 54/1972) — Mandatory
- Foreign establishment approval (listing) — Issued by: DALRRD Veterinary Services — Conditional
- Laboratory analysis / certificate of analysis — Issued by: Approved lab — Conditional
- Liquor import certificate — Issued by: DALRRD (Liquor Products Act) — Conditional
- Label compliance (R146 of 2010; no pre-approval) — Issued by: Department of Health — Mandatory
Documents to export
- Commercial invoice — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory
- Packing list — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory
- Bill of lading / airway bill — Issued by: Carrier — Mandatory
- Customs export declaration — Issued by: SARS Customs (SAD 500) — Mandatory
- Certificate of origin (incl. preferential forms) — Issued by: SARS (DA 59/EUR.1 preferential) / chambers of commerce — Conditional
Government fees
- Veterinary import permit fee (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- Plant import permit fee (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- NRCS levy on regulated food (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- NRCS inspection / sampling / testing (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- Port Health inspection (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- VAT/GST on imported food (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- PPECB export inspection / statutory levy (Export) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- Phytosanitary / veterinary export certificate fee (Export) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
Customs single window: SARS eFiling / Customs EDI
Customs duties are not included.
A fee without a confirmed amount is listed by name only.
Reference documents
- FAIRS Country Report Annual (SF2025-0015) (2025) Open the source
- FAIRS Export Certificate Report Annual (SF2025-0016) (2025) Open the source
- Regulations governing maximum limits for pesticide residues (amendment No. 4388, 16 Feb 2024) (2024) Open the source
- Regulations relating to Labelling and Advertising of Foodstuffs (R146/2010, amended R45/2012) (2010) Open the source
- Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act 54 of 1972 (1972) Open the source
Guidance compiled from published sources — not legal clearance. Confirm the requirements with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.
Screening guidance based on published standards — not legal clearance. Requirements marked "needs verification" are directional hints; confirm with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.