TTB.gov South Africa

• Labeling Requirements
• Required Document and Licensing
• Import Procedures
• Taxes/Tariffs
• Contacts

LABELING REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the brand name the following information is mandatory on imported alcohol labels:

• Produced and Bottled in ..... .
• The AB code number or full name and business address of the importer.
• The alcohol content in % abv may be accompanied by degrees proof. For wines the alcohol content on the label and the actual alcohol concentration may not differ by more than 1 % and may not differ by more than 0.5% for distilled spirits.
• Volume declaration in mL (the cl unit may be used for fill contents up to 1 L).
• The class designation of the product (for example, Whisky, Vodka)
• “Contains sulfites", "contains sulphites" or "bevat sulfiete" in 2 mm letter font (if a product contains more than 10 mg/L sulfur dioxide).

For more information please see the Liquor products page of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) and the Liquor Product Act of 1989.

GM (Genetically Modified) Food Labeling:

Regulations on labeling for genetically modified foods and foods containing genetically modified organisms can be found in the “Regulations Relating to the Labeling of Foodstuffs Obtained Through Certain Techniques of Genetic Modification” published On January 16, 2004.

The Department of Health oversees the enforcement of regulations related to the labeling of genetically modified (GM) foods. These regulations mandate that GM foods must be labeled if there is a significant difference in their composition, nutritional content, or the methods of storage, preparation, or cooking compared to their non-GM equivalents. Additionally, the regulations stipulate that GM foods derived from plants must be labeled if they contain genetic material from humans or animals.

Draft amendments to the GMO labelling regulations were published in October 2012, however the proposed regulations has not been yet enforced. For more information, please refer to South Africa Agricultural Biotechnology Annual GAIN report and the Biosafety FAQs.

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REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND LICENSING

There are various divisions within the South African government that enforce the Liquor Products Act of 1989, which concerns the import and export of liquor products. The Directorate of Plant Health Quality is the main regulator, while other aspects related to importation are handled by the Department of Trade and Industry (antidumping, security reasons, etc.) as well as the Department of Health (food safety). The following documents and certificates are required:

• An Import Certificate obtained from the Liquor Products Division serves as preliminary approval for importing specific liquor products (bulk or bottled).
• A Certificate of Removal obtained from the Quality Audit Division (wine inspectors) is required when the importer wishes to sell the liquor product (only applicable to bottled products) in South Africa. This certificate is necessary for each shipment.
• Permission for blending of liquor imported in bulkshould be obtained from the Quality Audit Division when liquor products are imported in bulk and the importer intends to blend the overseas product with a South African or other overseas product. This permission is necessary when the imported bulk product is diluted with water. 
• Permission to Sell Liquor Imported in Bulk After Bottling is obtained from Quality Audit Division and is necessary if the importer wants to sell the product after blending (including water) and bottling.
• An Import Certificate Exemption should be obtained if an importer wishes to import liquor products for any other purpose than the distribution and sale.

In addition to these import requirements, all importers shall be registered with the South African Revenue Service using the form DA 185: Registration Client Type 4A1 – Import (Annexure DA185.4A1). Also please consult the South African Revenue Service website for more information.

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IMPORT PROCEDURES

At least 48 hours’ notice must be given to the Quality Audit Division every time a shipment (or “consignment”) of liquor enters South Africa. Once it arrives, the importer must present the Import Certificate and obtain a pass from the Quality Audit Division. The application for the certificate must be accompanied by a sample consisting of at least 750 ml of the product, or in the case of a bottled import, the sample must be submitted in the labeled container in which it will be sold. This sample must be delivered to the office of the Liquor Products Division, located at Quarantine Station outside Stellenbosch. The importer must only apply for this once in the lifetime of the product, except when products in a separate shipment (or “consignment”) differ in container, composition, labeling, trade name or bottle size (only composition applies in the case of bulk imports). A chemical analysis is required and should be provided to the office of the Liquor Products Division, unless the importer provides an acceptable Certificate Analysis issued by an official laboratory in the country of origin. Labels of the bottled products will be evaluated and should comply with the Liquor Products Act. For bulk product, the label will be evaluated upon receipt of the application for a Permission to Sell certificate. Consignments of the product may be imported after receiving approval from the Liquor Products Division.

A Certificate of Removal for bottled products is obtained from the Quality Audit Division (wine inspectors).  The consignment of liquor must be unpacked under supervision of an Inspector from the Quality Audit and an application for a Certificate of Removal is handed to the Inspector at this point.  A separate application for a Certificate of Removal must be completed for every liquor product which differ from any other liquor product with regards to container, composition, labeling, trade name and bottle size.  Each application also should include a 750 ml sample (drawn from the consignment by the inspector).

For products that arrive in bulk, a Certificate of Permission for blending of liquor imported in bulk and/or a Certificate for Permission to sell liquor imported in bulk after bottling may be necessary. For more information on the import procedures and the relevant certificate fees please see pages 6 and 7 of the Import Manual for Participants of the Import Trade.

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TAXES/TARIFFS

The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) is responsible for tariff investigations, amendments, and trade remedies on behalf of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), which comprises South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) and Namibia. The tariffs rates are detailed on the South African Revenue Service website. Please ensure you have a 10-digit HS classification code in order to obtain tariff information.  

The value-added tax (VAT) is 15 percent. VAT is payable on nearly all imports. However, goods imported for use in manufacturing or resale by registered trades may be exempt from VAT. Duties Specific excise duties are levied on tobacco, tobacco products, and petroleum products.  Duties on alcoholic beverages are set at fixed percentages of the retail prices.  Ad valorem excise duties are levied on a range of “up market” consumer goods. The statutory rate is currently 10 percent (except for most office machinery, as well as motorcycles, that attract duty of 5 percent).

Also see the Census Bureau’s Schedule B search function, which allows to classify your product according to United States export codes. Simply click "Search" and enter the keyword (i.e., beer) that best describes your product.

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CONTACTS

The information in this guide was obtained from external sources, including the websites of various governmental agencies and organizations, direct contact with those agencies and organizations, and from Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Attaché reports. Consequently, the accuracy of this information depends upon the accuracy of the sources.

TTB is not responsible for the content of external websites.

This page was last reviewed on May 10, 2024.

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