G/SPS/N/ZAF/82  
5 March 2024  
(24-2036) 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:  National Department of Health  
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):  Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers (HS code(s): 07); 
Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons (HS code(s): 08); Coffee, tea, maté and 
spices (HS code(s): 09); Cereals (HS code(s): 10); Cotton (HS code(s): 52)  
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 the Maximum Limits for Pesticide 
Residues that may be present in Foodstuffs: Amendment . Language(s):  English . 
Number of pages:  18 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2024/SPS/ZAF/24_01839_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The amendment to the Regulations makes provision for the 
maximum limits for pesticide residues in foodstuffs under the control of the Department of 
Health, in terms of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetic and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act 54 of 1972).  
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) :  
− XG 33 -1999, Recommended Methods of Sampling for the Determination of 
Pesticide Residues for Compliance with MRLs  
− CXG 40 -1993, Guidelines on Good Laboratory Practice in Pesticide Residue 
Analysis  
− CXG 84 -2012, Principles and Guidance on the Selection of Representative 
Commodities for the Extrapolation of Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides to 
Commodity Groups  
− CXG 90 -2017, Guidelines on Performance Criteria for Methods of Analysis for 
the Determination of Pest icide Residues in Food and Feed  
− CXG 97 -2022, Guidelines for the Recognition of Active Substances or 
Authorized Uses of Active Substances of Low Public Health Concern that are 
Considered Exempted from the Establishment of Maximum Residue Limits or 
do not gi ve rise to Residues  G/SPS/N/ZAF/82  
 
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  [ ] 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?  
[ ] Yes   [X] No  
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  Deviations may occur because South African Good Agricultural 
Practices  (GAP) related to, among others, field  trials conducted in this country, are used in 
estimation of MRLs. In addition, exposure assessments of pesticides are conducted using 
South African consumption data.  
The original regulation, however, indicates that where food is imported into South Africa , 
and if MRLs are more restrictive that Codex MRLs, the Codex MRL will be accepted 
provided that the exposure to the population is not a risk to human safety.  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:    
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 16 February 2024  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 16 February 2024  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : 16 February 2024  
[X] Trade facilitating mea sure  
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:   
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  
E-mail: foodcontrol@health.gov.za  and copy: CACPSA@health.gov.za