./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/ZAF/4
21 October 1998
(98-4103)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  SOUTH AFRICA
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:   Directorate Plant and Quality Control
3. Products covered (tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules deposited
with the WTO.  ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   Seed
for planting;  Fresh, frozen, dried and glazed fruit, and fresh frozen and dehydrated
vegetables;  Cut and dried flowers and foliage;  Propagation plant material.
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:
Notification of the withdrawal of the current authorizations to import fresh, dried and
dehydrated fruits and vegetables and fresh and dried cut flowers and plant material, without
a permit.  Regulation to be published.
5. Description of content:
Currently the conditions of import of certain controlled goods are promulgated in
Government Notice R.1013 of 26 May 1989 as published in Government Gazette No. 3666of 26 May 1989.  These goods may be imported without a permit, subject to the published
import conditions.  These conditions were not compiled on the basis of a pest risk analysis
and in terms of these conditions the importation of controlled goods are prohibited from
certain countries where the listed quarantine organisms occur.  These conditions also
exclude quarantine organisms that may pose a threat to the local fruit, vegetable and flower
production.  In order to protect plant health in South Africa at the appropriate level, the
importation of fresh and dried fruits, vegetables and cut flowers as well as certain types ofplant material must rather be subject to authorisation by means of a permit issued in terms
of articles 3 and 4 of the Agricultural Pests Act, 1983 (Act No. 36 of 1983).  Establishment
of relevant import conditions for these products in future, shall be based on International
Standards for Phytosanitary Measures regarding Pest Risk Analysis.  This will be in
accordance with the requirements of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary andPhytosanitary Measures.
6. Objective and rationale:
Protection of plant health in South Africa whilst conforming the current conditions that are
restrictive on trade, with International Norms and Standards for Phytosanitary Measures.
7. An international standard, guidelin e or recommendation does not exist [    ].
If an international standard, guideline or  recommendation exists, whenever possible,
identify deviations:   No deviation from relevant International Standards.G/SPS/N/ZAF/4
Page 2
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Currently drafted for
later publication.
9. Proposed date of adoption:  15 December 1998
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  1 January 1999
11. Final date for comments:  12 December 1998
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:
Directorate Plant and Quality Control
Private Bag X258
Pretoria
0001
Fax:  +27 (12) 319 6101
12. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [     ] or address, telefax number and
E-mail address (if available) of other body:   
Directorate Plant and Quality Control
Private Bag X258
Pretoria0001
Fax:  +27 (12) 319 6101