Tamper-Proof Certificate of Conformity Vault
Upload your Certificate of Conformity PDF. Get a tamper-proof digital fingerprint and a permanent verification URL. Your clearing agent scans a QR code at the port — SARS Customs sees the verified CoC in seconds.
From 20 September 2026, SARS Customs and BMA refuse clearance for any Phase 1 shipment without a valid CoC.
The SABS PVoC programme becomes mandatory on 20 September 2026. From that date, every Phase 1 shipment from Mainland China requires a valid Certificate of Conformity referenced at pre-clearance. Have your CoC vault active before the deadline.
Transparent Pricing
Volume-Based Registration Fees
Non-negotiable. No discount path. No "Contact Sales." The fee is calculated from your declared CIF value on the SAD500.
Up to R1 Million
2.00%
Up to R20,000
Standard Digital Swipe fee
R1M – R10 Million
1.00%
R10k – R100k
Mid-tier importer rate
R10M – R100 Million
0.50%
R50k – R500k
The Industrial Floor
Above R100 Million
0.50%
R500k+
Mass-scale bulk utility
Fee = declared CIF value × tier rate. Calculated automatically from your SAD500 figure.
SaaS Layer
Onboarding + Vault Subscription
Pay once to onboard. Pay monthly to keep your records audit-ready for the full 5-year SARS / Customs Act retention period.
One-Time
R1,997
Onboarding
- Forensic entity anchor
- First CoC vault setup
- 30-day free vault retention on first CoC
- Permanent verification URL
Monthly
R499/mo
Vault Subscription
- 5-year SARS / Customs Act record retention
- Tamper-proof CoC hashes for every shipment
- Re-download original CoC PDFs anytime
- Audit-ready verification URLs maintained
Available after onboarding.
The Business Case
Compliance ROI — Three Sector Examples
The fine for misdeclared goods is typically 15% of CIF value. A CoC costs a fraction of that.
| Sector | Shipment Value | CoC Cost | Fine Avoided | ROI Multiple |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar / PV | R10M | R100,000 | R1,500,000 | 15× |
| Furniture | R5M | R50,000 | R750,000 | 15× |
| Cosmetics | R2M | R40,000 | R300,000+ | 7.5× |
CoC cost = tiered registration fee per shipment. Fine = 15% of CIF value (typical SARS non-compliance penalty for misdeclared goods).
The Process
How CoC Vault Works
01
Upload your CoC PDF
Drag and drop your Certificate of Conformity. Max 10 MB. Your browser computes the SHA-256 hash locally — the document never leaves your device unencrypted.
02
Fill in metadata
HS code, importer of record, manufacturer, country of origin, applicable SANS standards, CIF value, and issuing body.
03
Pay the registration fee
A tiered fee calculated from your declared CIF value. Paid via Stripe in ZAR. Secure, instant, and receipted.
04
Receive your verification URL
A permanent public URL at /v/{hash}/ that SARS Customs, BMA, and clearing agents can scan to verify your CoC in real time.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Certificate of Conformity?
A Certificate of Conformity (CoC) is a document issued by an accredited foreign inspection body — CCIC, SGS, Intertek, or Bureau Veritas — confirming that your imported goods meet the South African National Standards (SANS) required for that product category. Without a valid CoC, your shipment cannot clear at a South African port after 20 September 2026.
Why does the September 2026 deadline matter?
The SABS Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme was gazetted in Government Gazette No. 54374 on 20 March 2026. From 20 September 2026, every Phase 1 shipment from Mainland China — solar PV, furniture, cosmetics, children's toys, and electrical appliances — must have a CoC at the border. Goods arriving without one will be held, returned, or destroyed at the importer's expense.
What happens if SARS Customs can't verify my CoC?
Your shipment is held at the port. You are liable for storage and demurrage costs from day one — typically R15,000–R30,000 per day at Durban. If a valid CoC cannot be produced within a reasonable period, the goods can be returned to China at your expense. The certificatesofconformity.co.za vault gives SARS Customs a permanent, tamper-proof verification URL they can check in seconds.
Do I need this if I import from Vietnam or India?
Phase 1 covers Mainland China only. If your supply chain is entirely outside China, your shipments are not currently in scope. However, Phase 2 expansion to additional countries has been announced by the SABS — the specific countries and date have not yet been gazetted. We will update this page when the Phase 2 notice is published.
What is the digital fingerprint and why does it matter?
When you upload your CoC PDF, your browser computes a SHA-256 cryptographic hash — a unique 64-character code derived from every byte of the document. If even a single character changes after registration, the hash changes completely. This makes tampering detectable: a clearing agent or SARS officer can verify the document has not been altered since it was registered.
The September 2026 deadline is fixed.
PVoC enforcement begins 20 September 2026. Every shipment without a valid CoC risks a 15% CIF fine. Get your CoC registered today.