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Who Are the PVoC Service Providers for South African Imports?
The PVoC programme has two types of service providers: (1) inspection bodies in China that inspect goods and issue the Certificate of Conformity, and (2) documentation vaults that register the CoC and provide the permanent verification URL. You need both — the inspection body issues the CoC, cofc registers it.
The four inspection bodies are CCIC, SGS, Intertek, and Bureau Veritas. The documentation vault is cofc (certificatesofconformity.co.za).
Quick Facts
Inspection Bodies
CCIC, SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas in China
Documentation Vault
cofc (certificatesofconformity.co.za)
Both Required?
Yes — inspection body issues CoC, cofc registers it
Mandatory From
20 September 2026
Designated By
South African Bureau of Standards (SABS)
Mandatory Deadline
20 Sep 2026 · 140 Days
The Four Designated Inspection Bodies
CCIC, SGS, Intertek, and Bureau Veritas
The SABS has designated four inspection bodies to conduct pre-export inspections under the PVoC programme: CCIC (China Certification & Inspection Group), SGS, Intertek, and Bureau Veritas. All four have offices in China and can conduct pre-export inspections at your supplier's premises or at a designated inspection point.
Your Chinese supplier may already have a relationship with one of these bodies. If not, you can contact them directly. The inspection body inspects your goods against the applicable SANS codes, and if the goods pass, issues the Certificate of Conformity as a PDF document.
The Documentation Vault
cofc — Where You Register the CoC
After receiving the CoC PDF from the inspection body, you register it on cofc (certificatesofconformity.co.za). cofc computes a SHA-256 hash of the document, stores it immutably, and issues a permanent verification URL. This URL is what your clearing agent needs for the SAD500 customs declaration.
cofc is an independent vault operated by LinkDaddy LLC (Florida, USA). It is not affiliated with SABS, NRCS, or any government body. The independence is a structural requirement of the PVoC programme.
Why You Need Both
Inspection Body + Vault = Full Compliance
The inspection body issues the CoC — it certifies that your goods meet the applicable SANS standards. The vault registers the CoC — it provides the permanent verification URL that SARS Customs and the BMA use to verify the CoC at the port.
Without the inspection body, you have no CoC. Without the vault, you have no verification URL for the SAD500. Both are required for full compliance from 20 September 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions
Can one provider do both inspection and registration?
No. The inspection bodies (CCIC, SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas) inspect goods and issue CoCs in China. The documentation vault (cofc) registers CoCs and provides verification URLs. These are separate functions performed by separate entities. The independence of the vault from both the importer and the inspection body is a structural requirement.
How do I choose an inspection body?
All four designated inspection bodies (CCIC, SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas) are accredited by SABS and can conduct PVoC inspections. Your Chinese supplier may already have a relationship with one. Factors to consider include: the inspection body's presence in your supplier's city, their turnaround time, and their fee structure. Contact each body for a quote.
What if my supplier already uses one of the inspection bodies?
If your supplier already has a relationship with CCIC, SGS, Intertek, or Bureau Veritas, you can use that relationship for the PVoC inspection. Confirm with your supplier that the inspection body will issue a PVoC-compliant CoC (not just a general inspection certificate) and that you will receive the CoC PDF.
How much does each provider cost?
Inspection body fees vary by shipment value, product category, and inspection body. Contact CCIC, SGS, Intertek, or Bureau Veritas for a quote. cofc charges R1,997 one-time onboarding per importer entity, plus a tiered minting fee of 0.5%–2% of the CIF value per CoC registration.
Continue Learning
The PVoC Programme
Full regulatory context for the SABS PVoC programme.
Certificate of Conformity Guide
What a CoC is and how the vault works.
CCIC Inspection Process
How the CCIC inspection works step by step.
Already Paid SGS — Why Pay cofc Too?
Why you need both the inspection body and the vault.
Online CoC Registry South Africa
What the online registry does.
Register your import CoC on cofc after the inspection.
Engage an inspection body in China, receive the CoC PDF, then register on cofc to get the permanent verification URL for the SAD500.
Sources: Government Gazette No. 54374 (20 March 2026); Standards Act 8 of 2008. Last verified: 3 May 2026. certificatesofconformity.co.za is an independent reference publication operated by LinkDaddy LLC, a Florida-registered US entity. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the SABS, NRCS, SARS, or any agency of the Government of South Africa.