G/SPS/N/ZAF/67  
 
16 April 2020  
(20-2960) 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:  Chief Veterinary Officer  
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):  Live animals and animal products/by -products.  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specif ic regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Temporary changes to certification requirements for 
imported live animals and animal products/by -products . Language(s):  . Number of 
pages:   
6. Description of content:  To provide for alternative arrangements to the use of original 
veterinary health certificates due to the impacts of COVID -19 on airfreight and courier 
mail services.  
Who does this notice affect?  
1. Importers of Live animals and animal products/by -products.  
2. Importers of live animals and animal products/by -products.  
3. The exporting Veterinary Authorities that has asked to use alternatives to original 
paper VHCs.  
4. This temporary change is relevant to the use of original and Veterinary Health 
Certificate (VHCs) and  it does not apply to countries that already provide original 
VHCs with the consignments.  
Interim arrangements  
1. Where an importer is unable to present the original VHC from the exporting country's 
Veterinary Authorities as a result of the COVID -19 pandemic, our inspection officers 
will instead accept the electronic copy of the VHC as lodged by the  exporting 
Veterinary Authorities  through our contacts provided hereunder.  
2. Our inspection officers may in some cases request verification of documentation 
directly from the exporting Veterinary Authorities.  
3. Where a paper original is issued by the competent authority prior export, we 
recommend that it is attached to the goods and/or consignments to minimise 
potential delays at inspection.  
4. The CVO must submit a list of authorised Email addresses that will submit such 
certificates to the address mentioned below.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[X] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect  territory from 
other damage from pests.   G/SPS/N/ZAF/67  
 
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  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 text) :  
[ ] 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  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international st andard?  
[ ] 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) : 10 April 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) : 9 April 2020  
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for 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:   
Chief Veterinary Officer  
E-mail: AQIS@dalrrd.gov.za   
Website: http://www.daff.gov.za  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enqui ry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Chief Veterinary Officer  
E-mail: AQIS@dalrrd.gov.za   
Website: http://www.daff.gov.za