Has the South African Government Announced New Import Requirements?

What the New Requirement Is

PVoC Mandatory Enforcement from 20 September 2026

The new requirement is the mandatory enforcement of the PVoC (Pre-Verification of Conformity) programme administered by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). PVoC requires that regulated goods — products subject to compulsory South African National Standards (SANS) — be inspected and certified by an SABS-accredited inspection body before they are shipped to South Africa.

The Certificate of Conformity (CoC) issued by the inspection body confirms that the goods meet the applicable SANS standards. From 20 September 2026, SARS Customs will check for a valid CoC when processing regulated goods at all South African ports of entry — sea, air, and land.

Goods arriving without a valid CoC will be detained. Detention incurs demurrage and storage charges that accrue daily (ZAR 6,693+/day for a standard container). In cases of non-compliance with SANS standards, goods may be seized under the Customs and Excise Act.

Why This Is Happening Now

The Policy Background

The PVoC programme has been in operation for several years, but enforcement has been inconsistent. The 20 September 2026 date represents a policy decision to move from partial enforcement to full mandatory enforcement. The SABS has been communicating this deadline to industry stakeholders since 2024.

The policy rationale is consumer safety and market protection. Non-compliant imported goods — electrical equipment that does not meet safety standards, toys with excessive heavy metal content, building materials that fail structural requirements — have been entering the South African market. PVoC is the mechanism to prevent this.

The 20 September 2026 date is confirmed. There is no indication that it will be extended. Importers who have not yet established PVoC compliance processes must do so before this date.

What Products Are Affected

Regulated Goods Under the PVoC Scope

The new requirement applies to regulated goods — products subject to compulsory SANS standards. This includes electrical and electronic equipment, toys and children's products, building and construction materials, personal protective equipment, automotive parts, cosmetics and personal care products, and certain chemical products.

Not all imported goods are affected. Goods that are not subject to compulsory SANS standards do not require a PVoC CoC. Check the SABS PVoC product scope against your HS codes to confirm whether your specific goods are regulated.

What You Need to Do

Three Steps to Compliance

The compliance process has three steps. First, confirm whether your goods are regulated by checking the SABS PVoC product scope. Second, engage an SABS-accredited inspection body (Bureau Veritas, Intertek, SGS, or TÜV Rheinland) to inspect and certify your goods before shipment. Third, register each CoC on CoC Vault to create a tamper-evident digital record and verification URL for use in SAD 500 customs declarations.

The inspection and certification process takes 2–4 weeks for a first-time certification. Start now — do not wait until close to the 20 September 2026 deadline.