Food Safety and Quality Legislation in South Africa

Food safety and quality legislation in South Africa are mainly the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF); the National Department of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry.
The list below is NOT comprehensive and does not include all food safety and quality Acts, Regulations and Specifications required for the food, beverage and health industry.
Please note the information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only. All information on this page is provided in good faith, however, we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of any information on this page.
New information is added regularly.


AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS STANDARDS ACT – No 119 of 1990

Below is a list of additional Standards, Requirements and Regulations under the Agricultural Products Standards Act.

Appeal Procedures (R1260)***

R1260 of 27 September 2019
Regulations regarding appeal procedures.

Exports***

R1983
GoN1268 of 4 October 2019 (Amendment of R1983)
Standards and requirements regarding the control of export of canned fruit: Amendment
GoN810 of 13 May 2019 (Amendment to R1983)
Standards and requirements regarding control of the export of dried fruit: Amendment


R1171
R1152 of 13 September 2019 (Amendment to R1171)
Standards and requirements regarding control of the export of honeybush, green honeybush and honeybush mixtures: Amendment

Fees (R1259)***

R1259 of 27 September 2019
Regulations regarding departmental fees.

Fruit

Canned Fruit (R1983)***

GoN1268 of 4 October 2019 (Amendment of R1983)
Standards and requirements: Control of export of canned fruit: Amendment

Dried Fruit (R1983)***

GoN810 of 13 May 2019 (Amendment to R1983)
Standards and requirements regarding control of the export of dried fruit: Amendment

Honeybush (R1171)***

R1152 of 13 September 2019 (Amendment to R1171)
Standards and requirements regarding control of the export of honeybush, green honeybush and honeybush mixtures: Amendment

Imports (1269)***

GoN1269 of 4 October 2019
Prohibition Regarding the Removal of Imported Regulated Agricultural Products Intended for Sale in the Republic of South Africa from the Specified Ports of Entry or Any Other Place as Determined by the Executive Officer

Meat (Processed)(R1283)***

R1283 of 4 October 2019
Regulations regarding the classification, packing and marking of processed meat products intended for sale in South Africa

FOODSTUFFS, COSMETICS AND DISINFECTANTS ACT – No 54 of 1972

Below is a list of Regulations under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act.

Additives (R1425)

R1425 of 17 November 2016
Regulations relating to miscellaneous additives in foodstuffs.

Bottled Water (R718)

R718 of 28 July 2006
Regulations relating to all bottled waters.
R455 of 26 May 2010 (Amendment to R718)
Regulations relating to all bottled waters.: Amendment

Comfrey and Konjac (Plants) (R1408)

R1408 of 10 October 2003
Regulations relating to the prohibition of the sale of Comfrey, foodstuffs containing Comfrey and jelly confectionery containing Konjac.

Fortification (R504)

R504 of 7 April 2003
Regulations relating to the fortification of certain foodstuffs.
R1206 of 14 November 2008 (Amendment to 504)
Regulations relating to the fortification of certain foodstuffs.: Amendment

Fungus-Produced Toxins (R1145)

R1145 of 8 October 2004
Regulations governing tolerances for fungus-produced toxins in foodstuffs.
R987 of 5 September 2016 (Amendment to R1145)
Regulations governing tolerances for fungus-produced toxins in foodstuffs.: Amendment
R751 of 17 July 2009 (Amendment to R1145)
Regulations governing tolerances for fungus-produced toxins in foodstuffs.: Amendment

HACCP (R908)***

R908 of 27 June 2003
Regulations relating to the application of the hazard analysis and critical control point system (HACCP SYSTEM).
R607 of 14 June 2018 (Amendment to R908)
Regulations relating to the hazard analysis and critical control point system (HACCP SYSTEM): Amendment
R1060 of 13 November 2009 (Amendment to R908)
Regulations relating to the hazard analysis and critical control point system (HACCP SYSTEM): Amendment

Hygiene (R638)***

R638 of 22 June 2018
Regulations relating to general hygiene requirements for food premises, transport of food and related matters.
R364 of 30 April 2015 (Replaced by R638)
Regulations relating to general hygiene requirements for food premises, transport of food and related matters.:  Replaced by R638
R962 of 22 November 2012 (Replaced by R364)
Regulations relating to general hygiene requirements for food premises, transport of food and related matters.:  Replaced by R364

Infants and Young Children

Foodstuffs (R991)

R991 of 6 December 2012
Regulations relating to foodstuffs for infants and young children.
R434 of 18 June 2013 (Amendment to R991)
Regulations relating to foodstuffs for infants and young children.: Amendment
R365 of 24 May 2013 (Amendment to R991)
Regulations relating to foodstuffs for infants and young children.: Amendment

Feeding Bottles (R879)

R879 of 21 October 2011
Regulations relating to the prohibition of manufacturing, importation, exportation and sale of polycarbonate infant feeding bottles containing Bisphenol A.

Objects Packed in Foodstuffs (for example toys)(R1090)

R1090 of 11 November 2005
Regulations relating to objects packed in foodstuffs intended for children.

Inspectors – Duties and Powers (R328)

R328 of 20 April 2007
Regulations relating to the powers and duties of inspectors and analysts conducting inspections and analyses on foodstuffs and at food premises.

Irradiated Foodstuffs (R1600)

R1600 of 22 July 1983
Regulations governing irradiated foodstuffs.
R366 of 24 May 2013 (Amendment to R1600)
Regulations governing irradiated foodstuffs.: Amendment

Labelling and Advertising

Special Medical Purposes (R493)

R493 of 26 April 2002
Regulations relating to the labelling of foods for special medical purposes.

Genetic Modification (R25)

R25 of 16 January 2004
Regulations to labelling of foodstuffs obtained through certain techniques of genetic modification.

Alcoholic Beverages (R109)

R109 of 11 February 2005
Regulations relating to the labelling of alcoholic beverages.
R764 of 24 August 2007
Regulations relating to health messages on container labels of alcoholic beverages.
R1458 of 22 December 2017 (Amendment to R764 & R1208)
Regulations relating to health messages on container labels of alcoholic beverages.: Amendment
R1208 of 14 November 2008 (Amendment to R764)
Regulations relating to health messages on container labels of alcoholic beverages.: Amendment

General Foodstuffs (R146)

R146 of 1 March 2010
Regulations relating to the labelling and advertising of foodstuffs.
R45 of 19 January 2012 (Amendment to R146)
Regulations relating to the labelling and advertising of foodstuffs.: Amendment
R1091 of 19 November 2010 (Amendment to R146)
Regulations relating to the labelling and advertising of foodstuffs.: Amendment

Marine Biotoxins (R491)

R491 of 27 May 2005
Regulations relating to marine biotoxins.

Melamine (R1054)

R1054 of 6 November 2009
Regulations relating to the maximum levels of melamine in foodstuffs.

Metals (R588)***

R588 of 15 June 2018
Regulations relating to the maximum levels of metals in foodstuffs.

Microbiological Standards (R692)

R692 of 16 May 1997
Regulations governing microbiological standards for foodstuffs and related matters.

Milk and Dairy Products (R1555)

R1555 of 21 November 1997
Regulations relating to milk and dairy products.
R127 of 25 February 2014 (Amendment to R1555)
Regulations relating to milk and dairy products.:  Amendment
R1262 of  31 December 2010 (Amendment to R1555)
Regulations relating to milk and dairy products.:  Amendment

Pesticides (R246)

R246 of 11 February 1994
Regulations governing the maximum limits for pesticide residues that may be present in foodstuffs.
R46 of 19 January 2012 (Amendment to R246)
Regulations governing the maximum limits for pesticide residues that may be present in foodstuffs.: Amendment
R548 of 17 June 2010 (Amendment to R246)
Regulations governing the maximum limits for pesticide residues that may be present in foodstuffs.: Amendment
R1047 of 20 October 2006 (Amendment to R246)
Regulations governing the maximum limits for pesticide residues that may be present in foodstuffs.: Amendment

Preservatives and Antioxidants (R965)

R965 of 3 June 1977
Regulations relating to preservatives and antioxidants.
R1124 of 20 October 2017 (Amendment to R965)
Regulations relating to preservatives and antioxidants.: Amendment
R60 of 28 January 2009 (Amendment to R965)
Regulations relating to preservatives and antioxidants.: Amendment

Salt and Sodium

Food-grade Salt (R184)

R184 of 9 March 2007
Regulations relating to food-grade salt.

Salt (R214)***

R214 of 20 March 2013
Regulations relating to the reduction of sodium in certain foodstuffs and related matters.
R1071 of 6 October 2017 (Amendment to R214)
Regulations relating to the reduction of sodium in certain foodstuffs and related matters:  Amendment.
R812 of 31 May 2019 (Amendment to R214)
Regulations relating to the reduction of sodium in certain foodstuffs and related matters:  Amendment.

Soft Drinks (R1769)

R1769 of 9 August 1985
Regulations relating to soft drinks.
R317 of 17 April 2012 (Amendment to R1769)
Regulations relating to soft drinks.: Amendment

Solvents (R911)

R911 of 28 September 2001
Regulations governing certain solvents in foodstuffs.
R315 of 7 April 2006 (Amendment to R911)
Regulations governing certain solvents in foodstuffs.:  Amendment.

Sweeteners (R733)

R733 of 10 September 2012
Regulations relating to the use of sweeteners in foodstuffs.

Trans-fat (R127)

R127 of 17 February 2011
Regulations relating to trans-fat in foodstuffs.

Veterinary Medicine (R127)

R1809 of 3 July 1992
Regulations governing the maximum limits for veterinary medicine and stock remedy residues that may be present in foodstuffs.
R860 of 25 August 2017 (Amendment to R1809)
Regulations governing the maximum limits for veterinary medicine and stock remedy residues that may be present in foodstuffs:  Amendment.
R215 of 10 March 2006 (Amendment of R1809 – Comments Invited)
Regulations governing the maximum limits for veterinary medicine and stock remedy residues that may be present in foodstuffs.: Amendment – Comments Invited

Meat Safety Act – No 40 of 2000


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