G/SPS/N/ZAF/69  
 
15 July 2020  
(20-4817) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  SOUTH AFRICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  NPPOZA, Directorate Inspection Services  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Plants and plant products  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specifi c regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  The use of normal A4 printing paper while issuing 
phytosanitary certificates . Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  1 
6. Description of content:  The National Plant Protection Organization of South Africa 
(NPPOZA), has had to review the use of security features on phytosanitary certificates. 
Due to the current situation with the COVID -19 pandemic, with the increasing cases there 
is a need to reduce  contact in order to ensure continued certification services.  
The NPPOZA will be temporarily issuing phytosanitary certificates printed on normal 
A4 paper which will have the following features:  
1. QR code  
2. 2X barcodes  
3. Coat of arms in colour  
All the informatio n that will be on the phytosanitary certificate will be generated from the 
eCertification system.  Trading partners are to note that South Africa will have 2 types of 
certificate paper in the international trade ; 
1. The original paper with security features, and  
2. 2. normal A4 paper with QR and bar codes),this arrangement will be in place until 
further notice.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [  ] animal health, [X]  plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from  animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related te xt):  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  G/SPS/N/ZAF/69  
 
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  Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:    
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 13 July 2020  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 13 July 2020  
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date fo r comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
NPPOZA, Directorate Inspection Services  
E-mail: PhilileL@dalrrd.gov.za   
PhindileN@dalrrd.gov.za   
Website: http://www.daff.gov.za  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
NPPOZA, Directorate Inspection Services  
E-mail: PhilileL@dalrrd.gov.za   
PhindileN@dalrrd.gov.za   
Website: http://www.daff.gov.za