Process Guide
How to Brief Your Chinese Supplier on CCIC Inspection
The SABS PVoC programme requires pre-export inspection of Phase 1 goods in China before they ship. Your Chinese supplier needs to engage an accredited inspection body before the goods are loaded. This article explains how to have that conversation.
Why your supplier needs to know now
The PVoC inspection must happen at the factory or at the Chinese port of departure, before the goods ship. It cannot happen after the goods have left China. The CCIC inspection process typically takes 2-4 weeks from application to certificate issuance. For first-time inspections, allow longer. If you're planning a shipment for August or September 2026, your supplier needs to start the CCIC process by June at the latest.
What to tell your supplier
Sample briefing message
"South Africa has introduced a new pre-export inspection requirement for goods imported from China. From 20 September 2026, all shipments of [product category] must be inspected and certified by an accredited inspection body before they leave China. The approved inspection bodies are CCIC, SGS, Intertek, and Bureau Veritas. Please contact CCIC to schedule an inspection for our next shipment. The inspection must be completed before the goods are loaded. Please allow 2-4 weeks. The certificate issued is called a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) and must accompany the shipment to South Africa."
What to do if your supplier resists
If your supplier resists, explain the consequence: without a CoC, the goods cannot clear at a South African port after 20 September 2026. Add PVoC compliance as a contractual requirement in your purchase orders. If the supplier refuses to comply, you need a supplier who will. See What if my Chinese supplier refuses to use CCIC? for more detail.
After the inspection
Once your supplier has the CoC, register it on the cofc vault: upload the PDF, fill in the metadata, pay the minting fee, and receive a permanent verification URL. Your clearing agent includes this URL in the pre-clearance documentation. See How to Get a CoC Certificate Online for the full registration process. For the full importer workflow, see the Importer Process & Workflow guide.
Ready to register your importer entity?
R1,997 one-time entity registration. Each CoC takes minutes to mint.
For the full regulatory context, see the Importer Process guide.
Continue Learning
Ready to Register Your Importer Account?
R1,997 one-time onboarding. Each CoC registration takes minutes. Have your vault active before 20 September 2026.
Verify with official sources: Government Gazette No. 54374 (20 March 2026). sansstandards.co.za for applicable SANS codes. This article reflects the regulatory position as at 30 April 2026 and should not be relied upon as legal advice.