G/SPS/N/ZAF/55  
 
19 October 2017  
(17-5674) 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; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable): Aquacultured live and chilled raw bivalves molluscs (oysters, mussels 
etc.) 
4. Region s 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 aquacultured live and 
chilled raw bivalves molluscs . Language(s): English.  Number of pages: 11 
6. Description of content: This c ompulsory specification requires that aquacultured live and 
chilled raw bivalves molluscs for human consumption which are offered for sale , complies 
with the  chemical, marine biot oxins and microbiological requirements for disease -causing 
organisms outlined in the referenced SANS 2879 , read together with the  shellfish 
monitoring programme and relevant technical regulations.  
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 standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : CODEX STAN 297 -2015: Live and raw chilled bivalves  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Pr otection 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/55  
 
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  9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
 SANS (South African National Standard)  2879: live and chilled raw bivalves  
 Codex Code of Practice for fish and fishery products  
 South African Live Molluscan Shellfish Monitoring and Co ntrol Programme  (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) : 17 December 2017  
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:  
National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS)  
Private Bag X25  
Brooklyn  
0075 
Tel: +(27 12) 482 8930  
E-mail: maphuti.kutu@nrcs.org.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:   
National Regulator for Compulsory Specif ications (NRCS)  
Private Bag X25  
Brooklyn  
0075 
Tel: +(27 12) 482 8930  
E-mail: maphuti.kutu@nrcs.org.za