Food legislation
Draft Regulations for comment:
The Directorate: Food Control administers those parts of the following Acts
that relate to food:
Foodstuffs,
Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act 54 of 1972)
(The Act can be obtained from Lex Patria Publishers, Tel: +27 11 784 6373)
The Health Act, 1977 (Act No 63 of 1977)
Regulations related to the hygienic handling of food and the inspection of,
inter alia, food premises published under this Act are also enforced by local
authorities in their areas of jurisdiction.
The International Health Regulations Act, 1974 (Act No 28 of 1974)
This Act provides for the approval by the Department of Health of the source
of food for consumption at ports, airports, on vessels and on aircraft, as well
as for the inspection of such premises and the sampling of food by local authorities.
The provincial health departments currently approve premises on behalf of the
national Department of Health.
Regulations include:
- Regulations Relating to Health Messages on Container Labels of Alcoholic Beverages - R1208/2008 (PDF)
- Regulations Governing Microbiological Standards for Foodstuffs and Related Matters: Amendment - R1207/2008 (PDF)
- Regulations Relating to the Fortification of Certain Foodstuffs - R1206/2008 (PDF)
- Regulations governing Microbiological Standards for Foodstuffs and Related Matters: Amendment -
R547/2008 (PDF)
- Regulations relating to maximum levels of Metals in Fodstuffs: Amendment -
R545/2008 (PDF)
- Enforcement By Local Authority -
Notice 557/2008 (PDF)
- Enforcement by Local Authority - R818/2007
- (PDF)
- Regulations related to Powers and Duties of Inspectors/Analysts – R328/2007
- (PDF)
- Regulations relating to food-grade salt - R184/2007 - (PDF)
- Regulations Governing the maximum limits for Pesticide Residues that may be present in Foodstuffs: Amendment - R1047/2006 - (PDF)
- Enforcement by Local Authority - R953/2006 - (PDF)
- Regulations relating Foods Forinfants,Young Children and Children:Amendment - R734/2006 - (PDF)
- Regulations relating to all Bottledwaters - R718/2006 - (PDF)
- Enforcement by Local Authority - R393/2006 - (PDF)
- Regulations relating to objects intended for children in Foodstuffs - R1090/2005 - (PDF)
- Regulations relating to Marine Biotoxins - R491/2005
- Regulation Enforcement by Local Authority - R429/2005
- Regulation Enforcement by Local Authority - R342/2005
- Regulations governing tolerance for Fungus-Produced Toxins in Foodstuffs - R1145/2004
- Regulation relating to maximum levels for metals in foodstuffs - R500/2004 - (PDF)
- Regulations governing the
labelling of foodstuffs obtained through certain techniques of Genetic Modification - R25/2004
- Regulations relating
to the prohibition of the sale of comfrey, foodstuffs containing comfrey and
jelly confectionery containing konjac - R.1408/2003
- Regulations relating to
the application of the hazard analysis and critical control point system (HACCP
System), R. 908/2003 (PDF)
- Regulations relating
to the fortification of certain Foodstuffs - R.504/2003
(fortification mix suppliers) - (PDF)
- Regulations governing
the tolerances for certain seeds in certain Agricultural Products, R1225/2002
- Regulations Governing certain Solvents in Foodstuffs - R911/2001
- (PDF)
- Regulations Jam, conserve, marmalade
and jelly, R.2627/1986 - (PDF)
- Regulation governing Emulsifiers, stabilisers
and thickeners and the amounts thereof that foodstuffs may contain, R.2527/1987
- (PDF)
- Regulation relating to Perishable foodstuffs – definition and declaration of certain perishable foodstuffs, R.952/1999
- (PDF)
- Regulation governing Radio activity in foodstuffs,
R.1931/1990 - (PDF)
- Regulation relating to the use of sweeteners in foodstuffs,
R.3128/1991 - (PDF)
- Regulations related to the use of Sweeteners – Amendment R125/ February 2008 - (PDF)
- Regulation governing the Maximum limits for veterinary
medicine and stock remedy residues that may be present in foodstuffs,
R.1809/1992 - (PDF)
- Labelling and advertising
of foodstuffs, R.2034/1993 - (PDF)
- Regulation governing the Maximum limits for pesticide
residues that may be present in foodstuffs, R.246/1994 - (PDF)
- Enforcement by local authorities,
R.382/1996 - (PDF)
- Regulation relating to Food colourants,
R.1008/1996 - (PDF)
- Regulation relating to Edible fats and oils,
R.1316/1996 - (PDF)
- Regulation governing Microbiological standards
for foodstuffs and related matters, R.692/1997 - (PDF)
- Regulation relating to Anti-caking agents – amounts
that may be used in foodstuffs, R.2507/1982 - (PDF)
- Regulations - Preservatives and antioxidants,
R.965/1977 - (PDF)
- Regulations relating to Irradiated foodstuffs, R.1600/1983
- Regulations - Soft drinks, R.1769/1985
- (PDF)
- Regulations relating to Mayonnaise and other salad
dressings,regulations R.92/1986 - (PDF)
Note that only the sections of these regulations relating
to additives still apply. As far as compositional and marking requirements
are concerned you are advised to consult the Regulations Regarding
Control Over the Sale of Mayonnaise and Salad Dressing in the Republic of
South Africa (R.636/2000) published under the Agricultural
Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act No. 119 of 1990). Marking requirements
for mayonnaise and salad dressings not covered by the aforementioned regulations
published under the Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 are governed
by the Labelling and Advertising Regulations (R.2034/1993) published under
the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act 54 of 1972).
- Regulations relating to Milk and dairy
products, R.1555/1997 - (PDF)
- Regulation - Mineral hydrocarbons in
foodstuffs, R.230/1977 - (PDF)
- Regulation - Marine food, R.2064/1973
- (PDF)
- Regulations governing Substances in wine, other
fermented beverages and spirits – additives, amounts and tolerances, R.2870/1981
- (PDF)
- Acids, bases and salts – the amounts thereof that foodstuffs may contain,
R.115/1986
- Regulations - Restriction on the sale
of food additives containing nitrite and/or nitrate and other substances,
R.219/1975 - (PDF)
- Regulations regarding processed foodstuffs
- Regulations relating to foodstuffs for infants,
young children and children, R.1130/1984 - (PDF)
- Regulations governing the composition and labelling
of raw boerewors, raw species sausage and raw mixed-species sausage, R.2718/1990
- (PDF)
- Regulations prohibiting guar gum as a foodstuff, R.2554/1991
- (PDF)
- Regulations relating to baking powder and chemical
leavening substances, R.2486/1990 - (PDF)
- Use of certain food additives in certain foods when wheaten products, R2417/1987.
Food, Drugs and Disinfectants Act No.13 of 1929
Regulations include:
- Edible gelatine
- Unwholesome or poisonous substances in food
- Ice-cream and ice-cream products
- Meat and fish and their preparations: edible fats and edible oils
- Tea
- Coffee, coffee mixtures and preparations of coffee
- Chicory
- Cocoa and chocolate
- Sugar, confectionary, dextrose and icing sugar
Health Act, 1977 (No. 63 of 1977)
Regulations include:
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