Plain Language Guide
What Is This New CoC Requirement I Keep Hearing About?
The new CoC requirement is the mandatory enforcement of South Africa's PVoC (Pre-Verification of Conformity) programme from 20 September 2026. If you import regulated goods into South Africa, you need a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) from an SABS-accredited inspection body before your goods are shipped. Without it, your goods will be detained at the border from that date.
What Is a CoC?
Certificate of Conformity — Plain Language
A Certificate of Conformity (CoC) — in the context of South African imports — is a document issued by an SABS-accredited inspection body confirming that your goods meet the applicable South African National Standards (SANS). It is not the same as the CoC you get when you sell a house (that is a Certificate of Compliance for electrical installations). It is not the same as an NRCS Letter of Authority. It is a specific document for regulated imported goods.
The inspection body visits your supplier's factory or warehouse before the goods are shipped, checks the goods against the relevant SANS standards, and issues the CoC if the goods comply. You then register the CoC on CoC Vault to create a digital record with a verification URL that SARS Customs can check.
The CoC is a pre-shipment document. It must be obtained before the goods are shipped. There is no way to obtain a CoC after the goods have already arrived in South Africa.
Who Needs a CoC?
If You Import Regulated Goods
You need a CoC if you import regulated goods into South Africa. Regulated goods are products subject to compulsory SANS standards. The regulated categories include electrical and electronic equipment (appliances, cables, LED lighting, solar inverters), toys and children's products, building and construction materials, personal protective equipment, automotive parts, cosmetics (including skin care, hair care, and colour cosmetics), and certain chemical products.
If you import goods that are not in any of these categories — for example, raw agricultural commodities, unprocessed minerals, or purely mechanical goods without electrical components — you generally do not need a CoC. Use the decision guide at /do-i-need-a-coc to check your specific situation.
The requirement applies regardless of the country you import from. It is not just for goods from China — it applies to goods from any country.
What Happens If You Don't Have One?
Detention at the Border
From 20 September 2026, if your regulated goods arrive at a South African port without a valid CoC, SARS Customs will detain them. The goods cannot be released until the compliance issue is resolved — and for most regulated goods, it cannot be resolved by obtaining a CoC after the fact.
While the goods are detained, demurrage charges accrue from the shipping line (ZAR 6,693+/day for a standard container) and storage charges accrue from the port operator. A 10-day detention can cost ZAR 80,000–100,000 or more.
In the worst case, SARS Customs can seize the goods permanently under Section 91 of the Customs and Excise Act.
What You Need to Do
Three Steps
Step 1: Confirm whether your goods are regulated. Check the SABS PVoC product scope against your HS codes, or use the decision guide at /do-i-need-a-coc.
Step 2: Engage an SABS-accredited inspection body. Contact Bureau Veritas, Intertek, SGS, or TÜV Rheinland and ask them to inspect your goods before shipment. They will issue a CoC if the goods comply.
Step 3: Register the CoC on CoC Vault. Upload the CoC PDF, complete the metadata form, and pay the minting fee. You will receive a verification URL to share with your clearing agent for inclusion in the SAD 500 customs declaration.
What is the new CoC requirement?
The mandatory enforcement of South Africa's PVoC programme from 20 September 2026. Regulated goods arriving without a valid CoC will be detained by SARS Customs.
Is this the same CoC as for selling a house?
No. The CoC for house sales is a Certificate of Compliance for electrical installations. The import CoC is a Certificate of Conformity issued by an SABS-accredited inspection body confirming that goods meet SANS standards. They are completely different documents.
Do I need a CoC for all my imports?
Only for regulated goods — products subject to compulsory SANS standards. Use the decision guide at /do-i-need-a-coc to check your specific situation.
Where do I get a CoC?
From an SABS-accredited inspection body: Bureau Veritas, Intertek, SGS, or TÜV Rheinland. You cannot get a CoC from SABS directly or from NRCS.
When does this become mandatory?
20 September 2026. From that date, SARS Customs will check for valid CoCs on all regulated goods at all ports of entry.
Continue Learning
Get Your CoC Before 20 September 2026
The new CoC requirement is real and mandatory from 20 September 2026. Engage an inspection body, get your CoC, and create your CoC Vault record before the deadline.
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.