Non-Tariff Barriers

Non-Tariff Measure

NTM classification

B7: Product quality, safety or performance requirements 

Date when the measure came into force

03 October 2014 

Publication where the measure is specified

Government Gazette No. 38033, 3 October 2014 

Regulation where the measure is specified

Regulations Relating To The Quality, Grading, Packing And Marking Of Tomatoes Intended For Sale In The Republic Of South Africa 

Country/Region applying the measure

South Africa 

Coded list of objectives

X: For purposes n.e.s. 

Description of the measure

2. (1) No person shall sell in the Republic of South Africa tomatoes, other than imported tomatoes referred to in subregulation (2), --
(i) unless the tomatoes are unclassified or sold according to the classes in regulation 4;
(ii) unless the tomatoes comply with the different standards for classified or unclassified tomatoes in regulation 5.
Types of tomatoes
3 (1) Round tomatoes
(2) Ribbed tomatoes
(3) Oblong tomatoes
(4) Speciality types of tomatoes
Classes for tomatoes
4. (1) Tomatoes shall be sold as either classified tomatoes or unclassified tomatoes.
(2) There are four classes of classified tomatoes namely Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class.
Standards for classes
5. (1) Classified and unclassified tomatoes shall, contain no chemical residues that exceed the prescribed maximum residue limit permissible in terms of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act No. 54 of 1972,
(2) Tomatoes which are classified as Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class shall comply with the specifications set out in Table 1 of the Annexure.
(3) The extent to which Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class tomatoes may deviate from the specifications prescribed in subregulation (2), is determined in accordance to regulations 13, 14, 15 and 16 and as set out in Table 3 of the Annexure.
(4) No consignment of tomato classified as "Class 1", "Class 2", "Class 3" and "Lowest Class" shall contain;
(a) plant injurious organisms of phytosanitary importance as specified by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries;
(b) Arthropoda infestation including the organisms which according to paragraph (a) do not form part of plant injurious organisms, excluding organisms which may be a source of danger to the human being, on more than 3% of the tomatoes or three free running Arthropoda per pallet load or part thereof in the consignment:
Provided that it does not exceed a maximum of one Arthropoda per container.
Sizing
6. Size is determined by the maximum diameter of the equatorial section, by weight or count. The following provision shall not apply to the Speciality types of tomatoes. The minjmum size for oblong tomatoes type is 30 mm. Tomatoes which are classified as Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class shall comply with the size groupings set out in Table 2 of the Annexure. 

Reference of the measure

Regulations 2(1) and 3-6 

Measure also domestic

Yes 

Products affected by the measure.

Description

Tomatoes 

Countries/Regions affected by the measure.

Description

All countries