Non-Tariff Barriers

Non-Tariff Measure

NTM classification

A33: Packaging requirements 

Date when the measure came into force

09 September 2004 

Publication where the measure is specified

Government Notice R. 790 (Government Gazette 26530) Of 9 July 2004 

Regulation where the measure is specified

Compulsory Specification For The Manufacture, Production, Processing And Treatment Of Canned Fish, Canned Marine Molluscs And Canned Crustaceans 

Country/Region applying the measure

South Africa 

The rationale of the measure

This specification covers the manufacture, production, processing, and treatment of canned fish, canned fish products, canned marine molluscs, canned marine mollusc products, canned crustaceans and canned crustacean products. 

Coded list of objectives

X: For purposes n.e.s. 

Description of the measure

7.2.1 Canned abalone
7.2.1.1 Preparation and presentation
The abalone units shall be smoothly trimmed and guts and mouth pieces shall be removed. The fringes need not be removed. Flesh showing unsightly fork marks or other damage shall not be used for the packing of wholes or halves unless being trimmed and used as filler pieces. Abalone shall be packed as wholes or as halves. Wholes and halves shall be not packed in the same container unless only one half is used as a filler piece to make up the correct mass. A small piece may be added to adjust the fill of the container. Such a filler piece shall be not less than 70 g in mass. Not more than one filler piece may be added.
Other forms of presentation may be permitted provided that they
a) meet all regulatory requirements, and
b) are adequately described on the label in accordance with the labelling requirements.
The container shall be well filled but not overfilled with the fish and packing medium. Distortion of the circular curve of the cans by forcing large abalone units into the cans with the consequent risk of affecting the integrity of the hermetical sealing of lids onto the cans shall be prohibited.
7.2.1.2 Drained mass
The drained mass, when determined in accordance with 11.5, shall be not less than 50 % of the d.n.m. Where the abalone content of any product is less than 50 % the product description shall be clear to indicate that it is a special type of product of which abalone is an ingredient, and the drained mass of the abalone shall be prominently declared on the label.
7.2.1.3 Absence of particular defects
Abalone units shall be free from discolouration due to oxidation or objectionable discoloured surfaces or stained marks or spots. The abalone units shall not have an abnormal dark colour. The product shall not contain abalone units with excessive dark colours due to high metal content such as iron, copper, lead or mercury. The abalone units in any one container shall be reasonably uniform in colour. The abalone units shall be practically free from abnormal surface cracks. Whole abalone units shall not be damaged or have unsightly cut marks or fork marks. When more than two abalone units are packed in any one container they shall be reasonably uniform in size. The product shall be free from viscera, mouth parts and black or dark pigmented parts. When the packing medium is brine or water the packing shall be clear and free from any curd and turbidity such as milkiness and sediment.
Canned abalone shall have a firm, springy, chewy but succulent texture. The texture shall be not abnormally soft or brittle. The internal texture of the whole abalone body shall be not mushy or disintegrated (soft heart) or mealy, or chalky, or crumbled or doughy. The texture shall be not dried or shrunken. 

Reference of the measure

Regulation 7.2.1 

Measure also domestic

Yes 

Products affected by the measure.

Description

Canned marine molluscs and cephalopods 

Countries/Regions affected by the measure.

Description

All countries