G/SPS/N/ZAF/44  
 
21 March 2016  
(16-1623)  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: Department of Trade and Industry 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item  number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Live lobsters for human consumption (HS Code: 03, 
ICS Code: 65) 
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: Compulsory Specification for Live Lobsters  
Language(s): English  Number of pages: 9 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/ZAF/16_1197_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: This amendment requires that live lobsters, for human 
consumption, which are to be offered for sale, comply with this compulsory specification 
and the requirements of the South African National Standard (SANS) 1680 that applies 
to the harvesting, preparation, packing, conveyance and quality of live lobsters, rock lobsters, spiny lobsters and slipper lobsters.  
SPS element: This compulsory specification specifies microbiological requirements for 
disease-causing organisims for live lobsters. 
7. Objective and rationale: [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international st andard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial  n u m b e r  o f  C o d e x  
standard or related text) CAC/ RCP 52, Code of prac tice for fish and fishery 
products 
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[ ] 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:   G/SPS/N/ZAF/44 
 
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  9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available: 
South African National Standard (SANS) 1680: Live lobsters http://www.sabs.co.za  (available in English) 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : After all comments are taken into 
consideration. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : After all comments are taken into 
consideration. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [X] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) :   
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 20 May 2016 
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
Ms Maphuti Kutu 
National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications 
Private Bag X25 Brooklyn 
0075 
Tel: +(27 12) 482 8930 E-mail: maphuti.kutu@nrcs.org.za 
13. Text(s) available from: [ ] National Notifi cation Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
Ms Maphuti Kutu  
National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications 
Private Bag X25 Brooklyn 
0075 
Tel: +(27 12) 482 8930 E-mail: maphuti.kutu@nrcs.org.za