WTO notification · TBT
South AfricaUpdated: check whether it is now adopted or in force
Official title
IMPLEMENTATION OF A PRE-EXPORT VERIFICATION OF CONFORMITY PROGRAMME FOR CERTAIN UNREGULATED PRODUCTS IMPORTED FROM THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA; PHASE 1 - PRODUCT LIST; ANNEXURE 1- LIST OF HIGH-RISK UNREGULATED PRODUCTS; OFFICIAL PUBLIC NOTICE— Launch of the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC); FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
South Africa issued an addendum on 6 October 2026 to the earlier TBT notification G/TBT/N/ZAF/273. Addenda often report that a measure was adopted, changed, postponed or withdrawn. The measure was first notified on 11 May 2026. The comment period closed on 10 July 2026.
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Source: WTO ePing (opens in a new tab). Summaries by Expodite, which is independent of the WTO.
Published here:
Updated here:
Cosmetics & Skincare (Non-SAHPRA) Non-Pressure Cookware & Kitchen Utensils Furniture & Homeware Mattresses & Foam Products Outdoor & Leisure Equipment School Supplies (Non-Toy) Sporting & Recreational Goods Candles & Decorative Burning Items Toys (Grey-Area / Non-VC) Internal-combustion generators P
The comment period closed on 10 July 2026. You can still raise concerns about the measure with your country's WTO TBT enquiry point, quoting the document symbol G/TBT/N/ZAF/273/Add.1; it can take them up with South Africa.
Find your country's enquiry point on WTO ePing (opens in a new tab)Latest notice (G/TBT/N/ZAF/273/Add.1, 6 October 2026)
IMPLEMENTATION OF A PRE-EXPORT VERIFICATION OF CONFORMITY PROGRAMME FOR CERTAIN UNREGULATED PRODUCTS IMPORTED FROM THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
The Republic of South Africa wishes to inform WTO Members that, with effect from 22 September 2026, it has withdrawn in its entirety the Ministerial Directive titled 'Implementation of a Pre-Export Verification of Conformity Programme for Certain Unregulated Products Imported from the People's Republic of China', published under Government Notice No. 7284 in Government Gazette No. 54374 of 20 March 2026 and notified to the WTO under G/TBT/N/ZAF/273. Consequently, no Certificate of Conformity is required under the withdrawn Directive, no new applications for Certificates of Conformity will be accepted or processed under the Directive, and any applications pending as of the effective date of the withdrawal will be administratively closed. The withdrawal does not affect obligations imposed under compulsory specifications or any other applicable customs, border-management, consumer-protection, health, safety or sector-specific legislation.
This directive, issued under section 33 of the Standards Act, 2008, provides a framework to support the application of South African National Standards (SANS) to certain imported products that are currently unregulated. It applies specifically to products that do not fall under compulsory specifications enforced by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS). The Directive does not extend to products governed by other legislation, does not grant additional regulatory authority to the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) beyond its existing mandate, and does not override or limit the legal responsibilities of the NRCS or any other regulatory body. The programme applies on a most-favoured-nation basis to qualifying products from all origins, consistent with South Africa’s obligations under Article I of the GATT 1994 and Articles 2.1 and 5.1.1 of the WTO TBT Agreement. Risk classification of product categories is determined exclusively by objective criteria, including market surveillance findings, non-compliance incident records, consumer safety complaints, and product category risk profile, irrespective of country of origin.
Every notice about this measure published here, newest first. Each one is the notifying member's own text.
AddendumG/TBT/N/ZAF/273/Add.1
IMPLEMENTATION OF A PRE-EXPORT VERIFICATION OF CONFORMITY PROGRAMME FOR CERTAIN UNREGULATED PRODUCTS IMPORTED FROM THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
The Republic of South Africa wishes to inform WTO Members that, with effect from 22 September 2026, it has withdrawn in its entirety the Ministerial Directive titled 'Implementation of a Pre-Export Verification of Conformity Programme for Certain Unregulated Products Imported from the People's Republic of China', published under Government Notice No. 7284 in Government Gazette No. 54374 of 20 March 2026 and notified to the WTO under G/TBT/N/ZAF/273. Consequently, no Certificate of Conformity is required under the withdrawn Directive, no new applications for Certificates of Conformity will be accepted or processed under the Directive, and any applications pending as of the effective date of the withdrawal will be administratively closed. The withdrawal does not affect obligations imposed under compulsory specifications or any other applicable customs, border-management, consumer-protection, health, safety or sector-specific legislation.
Regular notificationG/TBT/N/ZAF/273
Comment deadline: Closed on 10 July 2026
IMPLEMENTATION OF A PRE-EXPORT VERIFICATION OF CONFORMITY PROGRAMME FOR CERTAIN UNREGULATED PRODUCTS IMPORTED FROM THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA; PHASE 1 - PRODUCT LIST; ANNEXURE 1- LIST OF HIGH-RISK UNREGULATED PRODUCTS; OFFICIAL PUBLIC NOTICE— Launch of the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC); FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This directive, issued under section 33 of the Standards Act, 2008, provides a framework to support the application of South African National Standards (SANS) to certain imported products that are currently unregulated. It applies specifically to products that do not fall under compulsory specifications enforced by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS). The Directive does not extend to products governed by other legislation, does not grant additional regulatory authority to the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) beyond its existing mandate, and does not override or limit the legal responsibilities of the NRCS or any other regulatory body. The programme applies on a most-favoured-nation basis to qualifying products from all origins, consistent with South Africa’s obligations under Article I of the GATT 1994 and Articles 2.1 and 5.1.1 of the WTO TBT Agreement. Risk classification of product categories is determined exclusively by objective criteria, including market surveillance findings, non-compliance incident records, consumer safety complaints, and product category risk profile, irrespective of country of origin.
Expodite writes its summary from the official record. The notification and the documents it notifies are on the WTO's own websites.
WTO notificationTBTProposed measure, not in force yetNew
This specification covers the requirements for motor vehicles of category M1, not previously registered or licensed in South Africa, and motor vehicles assembled from new bodies and used parts from earlier designs of motor vehicle models, designed or adapted for operation on a public road.
Symbol: G/TBT/N/ZAF/275Comment period closed
WTO notificationTBTProposed measure, not in force yetNew
This specification covers the requirements for motor vehicles of category N1, not previously registered or licensed in South Africa, and motor vehicles assembled from new bodies and used parts from earlier designs of motor vehicle models, designed or adapted for operation on a public road.
Symbol: G/TBT/N/ZAF/274Comment period closed
WTO notificationTBTAdopted, according to its latest noticeNew
This compulsory specification covers the requirements for safety glass and other safety glazing materials used in buildings in accordance with Part N of the National Building Regulations, and in any other application in which breakage due to human contact may result in serious injuries. Products…
Symbol: G/TBT/N/ZAF/141/Rev.1/Add.2Comment period closed
WTO notificationTBTAdopted, according to its latest noticeNew
The proposed amendment regulations set minimum quality standards for the classification of dairy products and imitation dairy products and prescribe the labelling of these products when presented for sale and the control system to ensure compliance with the minimum quality standards. It also…
Symbol: G/TBT/N/ZAF/176/Add.1/Rev.1Comment period closed
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