G/SPS/N/ZAF/36  
 
29 July 2014  
(14-4370)  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): HS Code(s): 03; ICS Code(s): 67, 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: Proposed amendment of the compulsory specification 
for frozen fish, frozen marine molluscs and frozen products derived therefrom  
Language(s): English  Number of pages: 6  
6. Description of content: This amendment requires that frozen fish, marine molluscs, 
and products derived therefrom, 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) 585: 2014 that applies to the handling, preparation, 
processing, packing, transportation, freezing, storage and quality.  
SPS element: This compulsory specification specifies microbiological requirements for 
disease-causing organisms for frozen fish, marine molluscs, and products derived 
therefrom. 
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 number of Codex 
standard or related text) CODEX STAN 166-1989 
[ ] 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/36 
 
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  9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:  
South African National Standard (SANS) 585: 2014: The production of frozen fish, 
marine molluscs, and products derived therefrom 
http://www.sabs.co.za  (available in English) 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined after all comments are 
taken into consideration. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined after all comments 
are taken into consideration. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined after all comments are taken into 
consideration. 
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 27 September 2014 
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:  
National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications 
Private Bag X25 
Brooklyn 
0075 E-mail: kutum@nrcs.org.za Tel: +(27 12) 482 8930 
13. Texts available from: [ ] National Notifi cation Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications  
Private Bag X25 Brooklyn 
0075 
E-mail: kutum@nrcs.org.za Tel: +(27 12) 482 8930