G/SPS/N/ZAF/61  
 
2 July 2018 
(18-4136) 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 Health. Directorate: Food Control  
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 ): Food for human consumption  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent releva nt or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners  
[ ] Specific regions or countries:  
5. Title of the notified document: Regulations Governing General Hygiene Requirements 
for Food Premises, the Transport of Food and Related Matters (Government Notice R.638 
of 22 June 2018) . Language(s): English.  Number of pages: 38 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/ZAF/18_3320_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: These new Regulations has been compiled to govern the 
handling, transportation, storage and sale of foodstuffs to the general public of 
South  Africa by food -producing establishments in order to protect the consumers against 
any potential risk of contractin g food poisoning or a food -borne illness. The new 
Regulations provide for updates in respect of, inter alia,  inclusions, deletions, modifications 
of definitions, deletion of sections no longer relevant, and movement of certain Regulations 
to enhance clarit y. In addition, hygienic requirements for appliances, bulk milk tanks and 
butchery equipment have been included, as well as provisions for the hygienic 
transportation of meat and meat products. The review also included alignment with Codex 
Alimentarius and  other international scientific developments e.g. from the World Health 
Organisation such as the 5 Keys to Safe Foods to ensure South African Food Legislation is 
current and based on international norms and standards.  
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.  G/SPS/N/ZAF/61  
 
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  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 General Principles of Food Hygiene [CAC/RCP 1 - 1969, ((Rev. 4 – 2009)  
[ ] 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 de viates from the 
international standard:  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : Not Applicable.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : Not Applicable.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : These Regulations are effective from 22 June 2018, with the exception of 
Regulations 3(11) (b), 6(7) and 10(1)(a) which will be effective from 22 June 2019.  
[ ] Trade facilitatin g measure  
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : Not Applicable.  
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:  
Department of Health  
Directorate: Food Control  
Private Bag X828  
Pretoria 0001  
Tel: +(27 12) 395 8789  
Fax: +(27 12) 395 8854  
E-mail: Shirley.duPlessis@health.gov.za and copy CACPSA@health .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:   
Department of Health  
Directorate: Food Control  
Private Bag X828  
Pretoria 0001  
Tel: +(27 12) 395 9359  
Fax: +(27 12) 395 8854  
Website: http://www.health.gov.za/fl.php  
E-mail: Shirley.duPlessis@health.gov.za and copy CACPSA@health.gov.za