Non-Tariff Barriers

Non-Tariff Measure

NTM classification

A69: Other requirements relating to production or post-production processes not elsewhere specified 

Date when the measure came into force

04 September 2003 

Publication where the measure is specified

Government Notice No. R. 978 (Government Gazette 25171) Of 4 July 2003 

Regulation where the measure is specified

Compulsory Specification For Frozen Rock Lobster And Frozen Lobster Products Derived Therefrom 

Country/Region applying the measure

South Africa 

The rationale of the measure

This specification covers requirements for the handling, preparation, processing, packaging, freezing, storage and quality of frozen lobster tails, frozen whole lobster (cooked or raw) or any other frozen lobster product derived from lobsters of the families Palinuridae and Scyllaridae, and of the family Nephropidae (genera Homarus, Nephrops and Metanephrops, or any other species of lobster), intended for human consumption. It also covers requirements for factories and employees involved in the production. 

Coded list of objectives

X: For purposes n.e.s. 

Description of the measure

4.5.2 A lobster shall be alive until immediately before being processed, when it shall be killed.
4.5.3 Lobsters shall be neatly and individually wrapped and neatly packed,and then frozen in accordance with 5.3. Alternatively, lobsters may be frozen and then glazed before being wrapped and packed.
4.6 Frozen whole cooked lobster
4.6.1 The requirements for purging that are applicable to frozen whole raw lobster shall apply
(see 4.5.1).
4.6.2 The requirements of 4.5.2 shall apply.
4.6.3 Immediately after being killed, the lobsters shall be cooked, rapidly cooled, scrubbed in cold fresh running water (that complies with all the requirements of 3.4.1) or sea water (that complies with all the requirements of 3.4.2), drained, graded where applicable, neatly and individually wrapped and neatly packed, and then frozen in accordance with 5.3. Alternatively, the product may be frozen and then glazed before being wrapped and packed. When graded, the lobsters in any one container shall be acceptably uniform in size.
4.6.4 After having been thawed, the product shall be such that it is consumable without further cooking.
Provided that they comply with the requirements of 4.4.2, lobsters may be held in a chilled condition while awaiting tail breaking and further processing. The conditions of chilling shall not be such as to affect deleteriously the odour, flavour, colour or appearance of the product.
4.7.1 Provided that they comply with the requirements of 4.4.2, lobsters may be held in a chilled condition while awaiting tailbreaking and further processing. The conditions of chilling shall not be such as to affect deleteriously the odour, flavour, colour or appearance of the product.
4.7.2 After the tails have been severed from the bodies, the gut shall be removed immediately in an hygienic manner and the tails very thoroughly washed to remove all traces of free blood. The washing shall be done in running water that complies with the requirements of 3.4.1 or 3.4.2, as relevant. Thereafter, the tails shall be graded where applicable, neatly and individually wrapped, neatly packed, and frozen without delay. Tails shall show no discoloration of whatever nature or origin. When it is necessary to hold the gutted, washed and graded tails under refrigeration awaiting final packing, the chilling of the tails shall begin immediately after gutting and washing, and the final freezing of the product shall start within 5 h of the beginning of the intermediate chilling. The nature and duration of the chilling shall be such as to not affect deleteriously the odour, flavour, colouror appearance of the product.
4.7.3 Whole lobster intended for the packing of tails shall not be subjected to intermediate freezing before further processing, but tails that have been properly gutted, washed, graded and individually wrapped maybe frozen as an intermediate step before final packing,mass adjustment and refreezing. Such tails may, with a view to repacking, mass adjustment and final freezing, be warmed (when necessary) in an acceptable way to allow separation of units,provided that the internal temperature of the tails does not rise above -7 ̊C 

Reference of the measure

Regulation 4.5.2, 4.5.3 , 4.6.4 , 4.7.1 , 4.7.2 and 4.7.3 

Measure also domestic

Yes 

Products affected by the measure.

Description

Lobsters 

Countries/Regions affected by the measure.

Description

All countries