G/SPS/N/ZAF/73  
 
7 April 2021  
(21-2892) 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   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Implementation of the new format phytosanitary 
certificate for re -export . Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  2 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/ZAF/21_2439_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  South Africa implemented a new format phytosanitary 
certificate for re -export since 1  April 2021.  
The new format has the following security features:  
1. The certificate has two numbers : on top right -hand corner there is a barcode, which 
is the document numbe r; 
2. There is a second barcode and QR code as an added security feature;  
3. The phytosanitary certificate number appears between the QR and the barcode . 
This is the number to be used on any communication in relation to issued 
phytosanitary certificate;  
4. The new phytosanitary number starts with NPPO -ZA/yyyy/mm/number;  
5. The e -phyto will only contain the new phytosanitary certificate number;  
6. Phytosanitary certificates will be printed on normal A4 printing paper . Trading 
partners are to note that South Africa will hav e to discontinue the use of original paper 
with security features in the international trade.  
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 text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) : 
ISPM No 12 G/SPS/N/ZAF/73  
 
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  [ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant intern ational standard?  
[X] 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) : 1 April 2021  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 1 April 2021  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 1 April 2021  
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 6 June 2021  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax num ber and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
NPPOZA Directorate Inspection Services  
E-mail: PhilileL@dalrrd.gov.za  
 PhindileN@dalrrd.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.dalrrd.gov.za