Garden Tools and Lawn Equipment Imports South Africa: PVoC CoC Requirements

Why It Is Regulated

Safety Standards for Electric and battery-powered garden tools

Electric and battery-powered garden tools imported into South Africa are regulated under the SABS PVoC programme because they are subject to compulsory South African National Standards (SANS). The applicable standards include SANS 62841 (motor-operated hand-held tools) and SANS 60335-2-77 (lawn mowers) and SANS 60335-2-91 (walk-behind and hand-held lawn trimmers). These standards set minimum safety requirements that goods must meet before they can legally be sold in South Africa.

Non-compliant electric garden tools pose electrocution risks, particularly in wet outdoor environments. Inadequate weatherproofing and substandard insulation are common failure modes.

From 20 September 2026, SARS Customs will check for valid PVoC CoCs on all regulated goods at all ports of entry. Shipments arriving without a valid CoC will be detained.

HS Codes and Scope

Tariff Classification for Electric and battery-powered garden tools

The HS codes most commonly associated with electric and battery-powered garden tools include 8467.81 (chain saws), 8467.89 (other tools), 8508.11 (vacuum cleaners with self-contained electric motor, of a power not exceeding 1,500 W), 8508.19 (other vacuum cleaners). Importers should verify the correct HS code for their specific product with their clearing agent. The HS code determines whether the goods fall within the SABS PVoC regulated product scope.

Manual garden tools (spades, rakes, hoes, pruning shears) are generally not subject to compulsory SANS standards and do not require a PVoC CoC. The CoC requirement applies to electrically powered garden tools.

The Certification Process

How to Obtain a PVoC CoC

To obtain a PVoC CoC, contact an SABS-accredited inspection body — Bureau Veritas, Intertek, SGS, or TÜV Rheinland — and provide them with the product specifications, HS code, applicable SANS standards, and planned shipment details. The inspection body will assess the goods against the relevant standards and issue a CoC if they comply.

First-time certifications typically take 2–4 weeks. Repeat certifications for the same product model are faster because the inspection body already has the product's test data on file.

Once the inspection body issues a CoC PDF, register it on CoC Vault to create a tamper-evident digital record and permanent verification URL for use in SAD 500 customs declarations.

After the CoC Is Issued

CoC Vault Registration

Register the CoC PDF on CoC Vault at certificatesofconformity.co.za/mint. Upload the PDF, complete the nine metadata fields, and pay the minting fee (2%/1%/0.5% of CIF value). A permanent verification URL is minted immediately after payment.

Share the verification URL with your clearing agent before the SAD 500 declaration is submitted. SARS Customs checks the URL to verify the CoC's authenticity when the goods arrive.