Why Is Everyone Talking About the September 2026 Import Deadline?

Why This Date?

The Policy Decision Behind 20 September 2026

The 20 September 2026 date was set by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) as the date from which PVoC enforcement becomes fully mandatory at all ports of entry. The SABS has been communicating this date to industry stakeholders since 2024, giving importers approximately two years to establish compliance processes.

The date represents a policy decision to close the enforcement gaps that have existed in the PVoC programme. Previously, enforcement was inconsistent — some ports checked for CoCs more rigorously than others, and some importers were able to clear regulated goods without CoCs. From 20 September 2026, enforcement will be systematic and consistent at all ports.

The date is confirmed and there is no indication that it will be extended. Industry bodies, freight forwarders, and clearing agents have been briefed on the deadline and are preparing their clients accordingly.

What Happens on 20 September 2026

The Day Enforcement Begins

On 20 September 2026, SARS Customs will begin systematically checking for valid PVoC CoCs on all regulated goods at all South African ports of entry — Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg OR Tambo, and all land border posts. This check will be part of the standard customs clearance process, not a special inspection.

Goods that arrive without a valid CoC will be detained under Section 88 of the Customs and Excise Act. The detention will be immediate — there is no warning period, no second chance, and no mechanism to obtain a CoC after the goods have arrived. The only resolution is re-export (expensive and not always possible) or forfeiture.

Importers who have been importing regulated goods without CoCs — either because enforcement was inconsistent or because they were unaware of the requirement — will find that their shipments are detained from this date.

Why There Is No Grace Period

The Deadline Is Hard

There is no grace period after 20 September 2026. The SABS has given importers approximately two years of advance notice. The enforcement date has not been extended previously and there is no indication that it will be extended again.

The PVoC CoC requirement is a pre-shipment requirement. It cannot be satisfied after the goods have been shipped. There is no mechanism for SARS Customs to issue a temporary release pending CoC compliance. Once goods are detained, the options are limited and all of them are expensive.

Importers who are not yet compliant should treat 20 September 2026 as a hard deadline and start the compliance process immediately. With 140 days remaining (as of 3 May 2026), there is still time — but the window is narrowing.

What to Do Now

Starting the Compliance Process

The compliance process has three steps: (1) confirm whether your goods are regulated; (2) engage an SABS-accredited inspection body to inspect and certify your goods before shipment; (3) register each CoC on CoC Vault to create a tamper-evident digital record and verification URL.

First-time certifications take 2–4 weeks. Start now. Every week of delay is a week closer to the deadline with one fewer week to establish a compliance process.