G/SPS/N/ZAF/68  
 
6 May 2020  
(20-3451) 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:  Electronic system (eCertification) for the issuance of 
phytosanitary certificates and the use of electronic stamps and signatures  . 
Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  1 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/ZAF/20_3079_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  In April 2020, the National Plant Protection Organisation of 
South Africa (NPPOZA) introduced the use of eCertification for the issuance of 
phytosanitary certificates for plant and plant products in general. Electronic stamps and 
signatures are used during the e -Certification process.  The phytosanitary certificate 
contains the security features as described below and the attachments (where applicable) 
will be printed on normal white A4 paper with the South Africa emblem, QR code, 
phytosanitary certificate number, barcode and will be signed as per ISPM1 guidelines.  
The following are features for the new phytosanitary certificate template for South Africa:  
1. The paper format has additional security features embedded in the document that 
can be viewed under ultraviolet  light.  
2. The certificate has 2 numbers; top right-hand corner there is a barcode, which is the 
document number.  
3. There is a second barcode and QR code as an added security feature.  
4. The phytosanitary certificate number appears between the QR and the bar code, this 
is the number to be used on any communication in relation to issue phytosanitary 
certificate.  
5. The new phytosanitary number starts with NPPO -ZA/yyyy/mm/number.  
6. The e -phyto will only contain the new phytosanitary certificate number.  
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.   G/SPS/N/ZAF/68  
 
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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) :  
[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) : No: 12  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international 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 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) : 1 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:   
NPPOZA, Directorate Inspection Services  
E-mail: PhindileN@dalrrd.gov.za   
PhilileL@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: PhindileN@dalrrd.gov.za   
PhilileL@dalrrd.gov. za  
Website: http://www.daff.gov.za