QUALITY ASSURANCE REGULATIONS

APPLICABLE TO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA.

MR. BILLY MAKHAFOLA,

MANAGER: DIVISION AGRONOMY AND

VEGETABLES,

DIRECTORATE FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY

ASSURANCE

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND

FISHERIES

THE CONTENT OF THE PRESENTATION

• About the APS Act

• What is a national/import quality regulation

• Scope of Quality Agricultural product regulations

• Objectives of the Regulations

• Quality Regulations on Agricultural Product in South Africa

• Processed Products Regulations

• Liquor Products

• Process of developing regulations

• Cross-referenced Regulations

• Application of the Regulations

• Challenges that confront South Africa

• Conclusion

ABOUT THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT STANDARD ACT,

(ACT NO. 119 OF 1990)

Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act no. 119 of 1990), came into

force on the 1st September 1991.

Regulates the sale (local/import) and export of specific agricultural products

by requiring that agricultural products:

Be graded or classed according to standardized, objective, measurable

minimum quality standards

Be marked or labelled accordingly

Packed in a certain manner.

The Act was amended in 1998 in order to address:

Constitutional changes (1996)

• E.g. Bill of rights.

International changes, e.g. ISO and Codex Alimentarius Commission.

Practical needs which arose at the time, e.g. management control

system (proposed Organic regulations, Food Safety standards)

WHAT IS A NATIONAL/IMPORT QUALITY REGULATION

Grading tool that provide:

• Uniform definitions for determining levels of quality.

• Common language for trading

• Classification of numerous characteristics

• A means through which official inspection can be conducted.

SCOPE OF QUALITY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT

REGULATIONS

• Standardization of quality norms for agricultural and related products

by establishing the criteria.

• These criteria may include the quality, packaging, marking and

labeling as well as the chemical composition and microbiological

contaminants of the products.

• These norms are validated by publication in the Government

Gazette under the Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act No.

119 of 1990).

• The norms are based on the specific needs of the South African

market and are usually harmonized with international standards.

OBJECTIVE OF THE REGULATIONS

• To provide an objective approach towards establishing effective and

practical quality norms.

• Through product classification and/or grading, consumer confidence is

encouraged.

• The trade is able to purchase specified quality products over time and

distance.

• Allow for greater market transparency.

• Provision of a consistent quality when purchasing a specific grade or class.

• Competition on an equal footing with imported products.

QUALITY REGULATIONS ON

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

• There are currently 36 active national/import regulations in South

Africa.

• 10 grain regulations (Agronomy)

• 2 Deciduous fruit regulations

• 5 Animal product regulations

• 14 Processed product regulations

• 5 Vegetable regulations

FRESH PRODUCE NATIONAL/IMPORT REGULATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

• Apples

• Pears

• Potatoes

• Onions and shallots

• Tomatoes

• Garlic

• All other vegetable types

GRAINS REGULATIONS

• Canola

• Maize

• Maize products

• Wheat

• Wheat products

• Sunflower

• Groundnuts

• Soya beans

• Sorghum

• Dry Beans

ANIMAL PRODUCTS REGULATIONS

• Dairy and imitation dairy products

• Eggs

• Ice cream

• Meat

• Mohair

• Poultry meat

PROCESSED PRODUCTS REGULATIONS

• Canned Fruit, Mushroom, pasta and vegetables

• Fruit Juices

• Frozen Fruits and Vegetables

• Honey

• Dehydrated vegetables

• Jam, Jelly and Marmalade

• Dried Fruits

• Mayonnaise and Salad dressings

• Fats spreads

• Vinegar

• Rooibos Tea

LIQUOR PRODUCTS

• Liquor Products Act , 1989 (Act no. 60 of 1989) which:

• Provides control over the sale and production of certain alcoholic

products.

• Regulates composition and properties of such products.

• Regulate certain particulars in connection with the alcoholic products,

by establishing schemes (Wine and Spirit Board).

• Provides control over import and export of alcoholic products

REGULATED LIQUOR PRODUCTS

• Wine

• An alcoholic fruit beverages

• A spirit

• A grape based liquor

• A spirit based liquor

• A specially authorized liquor

IMPORT CONDITIONS ON LIQUOR IMPORT

• There is an Import Manual for participants in the import Trade, and it

contains:

• Import Certificate –

• release of the consignment from custom

• Can only be applied for once in a life-time of a product.

• Certificate of removal

• Obtained from Wine inspector

• Applies to bottled products and for every consignment

• Permission for blending of imported liquor

• An imported bulk product is blended with either the South African or

overseas product.

• Permission to sell liquor imported in bulk after bottling.

• Applies to an importer who want to sell the liquor product after

blending and bottling

PROCESS OF DEVELOPING REGULATIONS

Need Identification

Process of Drafting

National consultation - Canvass comments

Alignment of the regulation with international standards (CCFFV).

WTO TBT notification

Publication of the regulation in the Government Gazette

Regulation

HOW IS THE REGULATION STRUCTURED

• Product specific standards

• Size

• Defects such as blemishes (Cosmetic defects)

• Cultivars

• Internal qualities

• Requirements

• Marking

• Packing

• Containers

Methods of determination on matters such as:

Sampling

Inspection methods

REGULATIONS THAT ARE CROSS-REFERENCED

• Trade metrology Act, 1977 (Act No.77 of 1977)

• Regulates the net weight of the product – Marking requirements

• Agricultural Pest Act, 1983 (Act no. 36 of 1983)

• Regulates plant health (PhytoSanitary)

• Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants, 1972 (Act, 54 of 1972).

• In the main food safety:

• Contaminants

• Mycotoxins

• Microbial contamination

• Chemical residues

• Fertilizer, Farm feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act ,

1947 (Act no. 36 of 1947)

• Registration of agro-chemicals and observance of the set MRL.

APPLICATION OF THE REGULATION

• The following are the implementing agencies:

• DAFF through the Directorate Agricultural Product Inspection Services

• Inspection of all the products

• Border and inland (trade) inspection

• Auditing of assignees

• Product Control of South Africa (PROKON)

• Potato inspection on all the national fresh produce markets

including the retail markets

• South African Meat Industry Company (SAMIC)

• Inspection on meat carcasses intended for local sale

CHALLENGES THAT CONFRONTS SOUTH AFRICA

• Role clarification – auditing of APIS’ inspection activities.

• Relaxed control of products that are sold locally – APIS teething stage.

• Lack of integrated enforcement of regulation

• Multiple role players (fragmentation)

• Lack of regulations on certain products

• Quality as a prerequisite for market access against the imperative of rural

development.

• Lack of integrated approach by line directorates in addressing the challenge

of compliance with quality regulations.

• Lack of official notification mechanism – non-conformity

• Some regulations are incompatible with the objective of rural a development

and food security.

CONCLUSION

• Quality regulations needs to evolve – traceability and fully integrate aspects

of food safety.

• Integrated legislative framework and enforcement.

• Facilitation of trade by applying the regulations in a flexible beneficial

manner.

• Use the quality standards as a inducement of rural development.

• Use grading regulations to promote food security.

• Promote each other ‘s grading regulations so that trade can take place

smoothly between countries

Contact details:

Mr.B.M. Makhafola

Private Bag x343

PRETORIA

0001

Email address: BillyM@daff.gov.za

Tel. no. (012) 319 6023

Fax no. (012) 319 6055

THANK YOU,