It is a good thing to start the year confirming you have the latest legislation on file. Bear in mind that all food safety management system standard make you responsible for ensuring legal compliance for your facility and your product. By having an FSSC 22000 certificate does not automatically mean that you are legally compliant with South African legislation or the legislation of the country of destination of your product.
In order to stay up to date, you should be checking the relevant government department websites. You can access these here:
https://www.foodfocus.co.za/home//Legislation/Articles/Road-map-to-legislation-affecting-the-food-industry-in-South-Africa
We were asked to confirm the status of some key legislation so we thought we would share this with you too:
Meat Safety Act, R40 of 2000
This Act has not been amended.
https://www.foodfocus.co.za/assets/documents/Meat%20Safety%20Act%2040%20of%202000.pdf
https://www.dalrrd.gov.za/Branches/Agricultural-Production-Health-Food-Safety/Animal-Health/importexport/legislation/animalid
Extension of comments (30 April 2020)
https://www.daff.gov.za/docs/media/Clarificatory%20notice%20-%20Amendment%20to%20Schedule%201%20-%20Meat%20Safety%20Act%20-%2030%20April%202020.pdf
Please note that there are regulations relating to this Act which you should implement too:
https://www.foodfocus.co.za/assets/documents/Red%20Meat%20Regulations%20-%202005.pdf
Microbiological standards for foodstuffs
R692 has been amended a few times and there is still a proposed amendment in draft.
https://www.foodfocus.co.za/assets/documents/Regulations%20-%20Governing%20Microbiological%20standards%20R692%20of%201997%20updated.pdf
The latest update was - Regulations Governing Standards For Foodstuffs And Related Matters R1207: Amendment
https://www.foodfocus.co.za/home/Legislation/Food-Safety/Regulations-Governing-Microbiological-Standards-For-Foodstuffs-And-Related-Matters-R1207-Amendment
Veterinary residues that may be present in food
The main regulation R1809 of 1992 has been amended several times.
https://www.foodfocus.co.za/assets/documents/Regulations%20-%20Governing%20the%20Maximum%20Limits%20for%20Veterinary%20Medicines%20and%20Stock%20Remedy%20Residues%20R1387_1999.pdf
There are two important updates you should take note of:
- 10 March 2006 (No 215)
Regulations Governing the Maximum Limits for Veterinary Medicine and Stock Remedy Residues that may be Present in Foodstuffs
https://www.foodfocus.co.za/assets/documents/Amendment%202006.pdf
- And the latest one: 25 August 2017 (No 860)
https://www.foodfocus.co.za/assets/documents/regulations%20veterinary%20substances%20amendment%2025%20august%202017.pdf
Regulations Relating to the Use of Sweeteners in Foodstuffs, R733 of
10 September 2012 is still the latest version
https://www.foodfocus.co.za/home/Legislation/Food-Safety/Regulations-Relating-To-The-Use-Of-Sweeteners-In-Foodstuffs
https://www.foodfocus.co.za/assets/documents/Sweeters%20list.pdf
If you are still looking for this regulation “Regulations Relating To Baking Powder And Chemical Leavening Substances
R2486
Amended 25 Jan 1991
Regulations Relating To Baking Powder And Chemical Leavening Substances
https://www.foodfocus.co.za/assets/documents/Regulations%20-%20Relating%20to%20Baking%20Powder%20and%20Chemical%20Leavening%20Substances%20-%20R%202486%20of%201990.pdf
Please note that it was REPEALED by R 1425 of 17 NOVEMBER 2016
https://www.foodfocus.co.za/assets/documents/Regulations%20relating%20to%20mischellaneous%20additives%20in%20food.pdf
R1316
5 April 2019 (repealed)
The Regulations Relating To Edible Fats And Oils has been repealed as of 5 April 2019 and currently, no replacement is provided.
https://www.foodfocus.co.za/home/Legislation/Food-Safety/Regulations-Relating-To-Edible-Fats-And-Oils
https://www.foodfocus.co.za/assets/documents/Regulations%20relating%20to%20edible%20oils%20and%20fats%20repealed%2042380gon5431.pdf
R1008 of September 1996 Regulations Relating to Food Colourants was last amended in 1999.
Regulations Relating to Food Colourants
https://www.foodfocus.co.za/assets/documents/Regulations_Relating_to_Food_Colourants_R1008_of_1996.pdf
Regulations Relating To Jam, Conserve, Marmelade And Jelly
R2627 of 1986
https://www.foodfocus.co.za/assets/documents/Regulations%20-%20Relating%20to%20Jam,%20Conserve,%20Marmelade%20and%20Jam%20-%20R%202627%20of%201986.pdf was repealed by R 1425 of 2016
https://www.foodfocus.co.za/assets/documents/Regulations%20relating%20to%20mischellaneous%20additives%20in%20food.pdf
There are quality regulations issued by DALRRD for grade of jams which you can find here:
https://www.foodfocus.co.za/home/Legislation/Quality/R81-Regulations-related-to-the-grading-packing-and-marking-of-jam-jelly-and-marmalade-intended-for-sale-in-the-Republic-of-South-Africa
Regulations Relating To The Classification, Packing, And Marking Of Dairy Products And Imitation Dairy Products
R26o has been amended many times. The latest change was last year.
R1510 - 22 November 2019
Regulations Relating To The Classification, Packing And Marking Of Dairy Products And Imitation Dairy Products
The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development has under section 15 of the Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act No. 119 of 1990) –
(a) made the regulations in this Schedule;
(b) repealed the regulations published by the following Government Notices:
(i) R. 2580 of 20 November 1987.
(ii) R. 2581 of 20 November 1987.
(iii) R. 1059 of 3 June 1988.
(iv) R. 1060 of 3 June 1988.
(v) R. 2141 of 6 October 1989.
(vi) R. 1465 of 26 August 1994.
(vii) R. 260 of 27 March 2015; and
(c) determined that the said regulations shall come into operation 9 months after date of publication thereof
https://www.foodfocus.co.za/home/Legislation/Food-Safety/Dairy-Products-and-Imitation-Dairy-Products-Regulations-R1510-of-22-November-2019
Caution: You need to make sure you check on updated legislation frequently as ignorance of the law is NO excuse.
