WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/ZAF/32 
7 August 2012  
 (12-4355) 
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 Health - Directorate:  Food Control 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable):  Irradiated foodstuffs 
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:  Regulations Governing Irradiated Foodstuffs: Draft 
Amendment (Government Notice R. 519 of 23 July 2012)  Language(s):  English  
Number of pages:  13 
 http://members.wto.org/crnattach ments/2012/sps/ZAF/12_3138_00_e.pdf  
 http://members.wto.org/crnattach ments/2012/sps/ZAF/12_3138_01_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The Guidelines for Monitoring Irradiated Foodstuffs in South 
Africa provides background information on food i rradiation, and also explains the roles of 
the different sectors of government in South Africa in regards to food irradiation.  The purpose of the amendment is to give the Guid elines for Monitoring Irradiated Foodstuffs in 
South Africa a legal and binding stand.  Ca reful adherence to these guidelines by all 
stakeholders will serve to uphold the current position whereby the South African food 
irradiation industry operates within a minimum of regulations but within the principles of 
Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) an d Good Irradiation Practice (GIP). 
7. Objective and rationale:  [ ] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[X] protect humans from animal/plant pest or  disease, [ ] protect territory from other 
damage from pests.    G/SPS/N/ZAF/32 
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  8. Is there a relevant international stan dard?  If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex standard 
or related text)  
 Codex General Standard for Irradiated Foods [CODEX STAN 106-1983, (Rev.1-
2003) 
[ ] 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:    
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:  Government 
Gazette No. 35518 of 23 July 2012 (available in English) 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  After publication of the final regulations in the 
Government Gazette.  This is not expected before 31 December 2012 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  January 2013 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  After publication of the final regulations 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  31 October 2012 
Agency or authority designated to handl e comments:  [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
Department of Health 
Directorate: Food Control Private Bag X828 Pretoria 
South Africa 
0001 Tel:  +(27) 12 3958789 Fax:  +(27) 12 3958854 E-mail:  CACPSA@health.gov.za  G/SPS/N/ZAF/32 
 Page 3 
 
 
  13. Texts available from:  [ ] National Notification  Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  
Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:    
Department of Health  
Directorate: Food Control Private Bag X828 Pretoria 
South Africa 
0001 Tel:  +(27) 12 395 8789 Fax:  +(27) 12 395 8854 E-mail:  CACPSA@health.gov.za Website:  http://www.doh.gov.za/depa rtment/dir_foodcontr-f.html