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My Freight Forwarder Said I Need a Certificate of Conformity — What Should I Do?
Your freight forwarder is correct. From 20 September 2026, Phase 1 goods imported into South Africa from Mainland China require a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) issued before the goods leave China. Without one, your shipment will be held at the South African port.
Your freight forwarder is telling you this because they need the CoC verification URL to include in the SAD500 customs declaration. This is your responsibility — not theirs.
Quick Facts
Regulation
Government Gazette 54374, 20 March 2026
Mandatory From
20 September 2026 · 140 Days
CoC Issued By
CCIC, SGS, Intertek, or Bureau Veritas in China
What Freight Forwarder Needs
The verification URL for the SAD500
Your Action
Register CoC on cofc, give URL to freight forwarder
Mandatory Deadline
20 Sep 2026 · 140 Days
Why Your Freight Forwarder Is Telling You This
The SAD500 and the CoC Verification URL
Your freight forwarder submits the SAD500 (Single Administrative Document) to SARS Customs when your goods arrive at a South African port. From 20 September 2026, the SAD500 for Phase 1 goods from Mainland China must include a reference to the CoC verification URL — a permanent URL on cofc's domain that resolves to the independently-vaulted CoC record.
Without the verification URL, the SAD500 is incomplete and the goods will be held. Your freight forwarder cannot submit a compliant SAD500 without the URL, and they cannot obtain the URL on your behalf — it comes from cofc after you register the CoC.
This is why your freight forwarder is contacting you now. They need the URL before they can submit the SAD500. The earlier you register the CoC, the more time they have to include it in the declaration before the goods arrive.
What the CoC Actually Is
The Certificate of Conformity Explained
A Certificate of Conformity is a document issued by an accredited inspection body in China — CCIC, SGS, Intertek, or Bureau Veritas — confirming that your goods meet the applicable South African National Standards (SANS codes). The inspection happens in China, before the goods are loaded onto the vessel. The CoC is issued before the bill of lading.
The CoC is specific to a shipment. Each shipment of Phase 1 goods from Mainland China requires its own CoC. You cannot reuse a CoC from a previous shipment, and you cannot use a CoC issued for a different consignment.
The Four Steps You Need to Take
What to Do Right Now
- 01Contact your Chinese supplier. Ask them to arrange an inspection with CCIC, SGS, Intertek, or Bureau Veritas before the goods are loaded. The inspection body will inspect the goods and issue the CoC PDF.
- 02Receive the CoC PDF from the inspection body. The CoC PDF will be issued to you or your supplier after the inspection. It must be issued before the bill of lading.
- 03Register the CoC on cofc. Upload the CoC PDF to cofc. The platform computes a SHA-256 hash and issues a permanent verification URL. This is the URL your freight forwarder needs.
- 04Send the verification URL to your freight forwarder. They include it in the SAD500. SARS Customs and the BMA verify the CoC by scanning the QR code on the SAD500.
What Your Freight Forwarder Does With the URL
The SAD500 and BMA Verification
Once you provide the verification URL, your freight forwarder includes it in the SAD500 customs declaration. The SAD500 also contains a QR code that encodes the verification URL. When the goods arrive at the port, the Border Management Authority (BMA) officer scans the QR code, which resolves to the cofc verification page showing all CoC metadata: issuing body, issue date, HS code, SANS standards, and SHA-256 hash.
The BMA officer does not receive or open email attachments. There is no BMA inbox for CoC PDFs. The verification is digital, automated, and URL-based. The entire workflow is designed to be fast — a QR code scan that resolves to a verified record in seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions From Importers Whose Freight Forwarder Has Contacted Them
Can my freight forwarder register the CoC for me?
No. The CoC must be obtained from an inspection body in China before the goods leave China. Your freight forwarder handles the customs declaration (SAD500) at the South African end, but they cannot arrange the inspection in China or obtain the CoC on your behalf. You need to engage the inspection body directly, or ask your Chinese supplier to facilitate the inspection.
What if my goods are already on the water?
If your goods have already left China without a CoC, you have a problem. There is no mechanism to obtain a CoC after the goods have shipped — the inspection must happen before the goods leave China. Contact your clearing agent immediately to understand your options. For future shipments, arrange the CoC before the goods are loaded.
How much does CoC registration cost?
There are two costs: the inspection fee charged by the inspection body in China (varies by shipment value and product category), and the cofc registration fee (R1,997 one-time onboarding + a tiered minting fee of 0.5%–2% of the CIF value per shipment). The cofc registration provides the permanent verification URL your freight forwarder needs for the SAD500.
What if my Chinese supplier refuses to arrange the inspection?
This is a commercial negotiation between you and your supplier. The PVoC requirement is a South African import requirement — it applies to the importer, not the exporter. You can engage the inspection body directly (CCIC, SGS, Intertek, or Bureau Veritas have offices in China) and arrange the inspection independently. See the article on what to do when your Chinese supplier refuses CCIC inspection.
Continue Learning
The PVoC Programme
Full regulatory context for the SABS PVoC programme.
Certificate of Conformity Guide
What a CoC is, what it contains, and how to register it.
Clearing Agent's Role in CoC Compliance
What your clearing agent needs from you for the SAD500.
My Freight Forwarder Handles Compliance — Do I Still Need This?
Why your freight forwarder cannot do this for you.
I Was Told I Need a CoC — What Does That Mean?
The full explanation of what a CoC is.
Give your freight forwarder the URL they need.
Register on cofc, upload your CoC PDF, and receive the permanent verification URL for the SAD500. R1,997 one-time onboarding, then a tiered minting fee per shipment.
Sources: Government Gazette No. 54374 (20 March 2026); Standards Act 8 of 2008; Customs and Excise Act 91 of 1964. 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.