. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/ZAF/29 
28 June 2011 
 (11-3180) 
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):  Maximum limits for pesticide residues in 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 Relating to the Maximum Limits for 
Pesticide Residues that may be present in  foodstuffs (Government Notice R.420 of 
13 May 2011)  Language(s):  English  Number of pages:  3 
6. Description of content:  :   The Regulations include new maximum residue limits (MRLs) 
on commodities as indicated in the Annex and al so include definitions of pome, stone and 
citrus fruits. 
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 stan dard?  If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex standard 
or related text) Codex Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides 
[ ] 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 tr ials conducted in this country, are used in 
the estimation of MRLs.  In addition, e xposure assessments of pesticides are conducted G/SPS/N/ZAF/29 
Page 2  
 
  using South African consumption data rather than GEMS regional consumption data of the 
FAO/WHO.  
The original regulation, however, indicates that where food is imported into South Africa, 
and if the MRLs are more restrictive than  Codex MRLs, Codex MR Ls will be accepted 
providing that exposure to the population is not a risk to human safety. 
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:  Government 
Gazette No. 34285 of 13 May 2 011 (available in English) 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  After final publication of the regulations in the 
Government Gazette.  This is not expected before 13 November 2011. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  13 November 2011 
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) :  27 August 2011 
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:   
Directorate: Food Control 
Department of Health 
Private Bag X828 Pretoria 0001 - South Africa Tel:  +(27 12) 395 8797 Fax:  +(27 12) 395 8854 
E-mail:  chandr@health.gov.za  
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 0001- South Africa Tel:  +(27 12) 395 8789 
Fax:  +(27 12) 395 8854 
Website:  http://www.doh.gov.za/department/dir_foodcontr-f.html