Non-Tariff Barriers

Non-Tariff Measure

NTM classification

B7: Product quality, safety or performance requirements 

Date when the measure came into force

29 August 2015 

Publication where the measure is specified

Government Gazette No. 37949, 29 August 2014 

Regulation where the measure is specified

Regulations Relating To The Quality, Packing And Marking Of Dried Fruit 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, subject to the provisions of subregulation (2), sell dried fruit for human consumption in the Republic of South Africa -
(a) unless such product is graded in accordance with the grades referred to in regulation 3;
(b) unless such product complies with the standards referred to in regulations 4, 5 and 14 up to 53;
Grades of Dried Fruit
3. (1) There shall be three grades of dried fruit, namely Choice Grade, Standard Grade and SubStandard Grade excluding pear halves with core and whole peaches with stone for which there shall be two grades, namely Standard Grade and SubStandard Grade.
(2) There shall be no grades for freeze- and vacuum dried fruit.
(3) Dried fruit produced by any other drying methods shall be graded: Provided the dried fruit concerned resembles the appearance of fruit dried by means of sun-, solar-, tunnel-, oven-, or wind drying method.
Standards for dried fruit
4 (1) Dried fruit shall -
(a) be prepared from healthy, ripe fruit;
(b) have an attractive appearance;
(c) -have a flavour characteristic of the kind of fruit from which it was prepared and be free of foreign smell and taste (slight smell of SO2 and slight smell and taste
of oil are not considered abnormal);
(d) be free from fermentation, mould, damage, decay, undue stickiness or any foreign matter;
(e) be reasonably free from stems (excluding stalk raisins), blobs or lumps, pips and seeds or pieces thereof, blackened and crushed fruit; and
(f) be free from -
(i) visible damage by insects, mites and other parasites;
(ii) living insects and mites, irrespective of the stage of development; and
(iii) insect residues.
(2) High moisture dried fruit shall -
(a) conform to the standards set out in Part I and graded according to the quality standards set out in Parts II to VI;
(b) be excluded from having to comply with the moisture content requirements as set out in Parts II to V: Provided they are labelled with the words "soft fruit" or "high moisture" on the main panel; and
(c) be treated with a preservative or preserved by any other means (e.g. pasteurisation).
(3) Vacuum and freeze dried fruit shall -
(a) conform to the standards set out in Part I;
(b) be excluded to comply with the grading quality standards as set out in Parts II to V;
(c) comply with the marking requirements as set out in regulation 8; and
(d) not be graded and a grade shall not be marked on a container or outer container thereof.
(4) Preservatives and additives:
(a) Dried fruit may be treated with preservatives and contain food additives to the extent permissible under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act No. 54 of 1972).
Preservative Free Dried Fruit
5. (1) The use of the expression "preservative free" or similar description is subject to the requirements for non-preserved dried fruits as prescribed by these regulations.
(2) Bleached and lyed fruit shall not be sold as preservative free dried fruit.
(3) Preservative free dried fruit shall conform to the standards set out in Part I.
(4) Preservative free dried fruit shall be graded according to the quality standards set out in Parts II to V: Provided that-
(a) The colour of dried fruit which is markedly darker without addition of a preservative shall be evaluated according to the colour characteristics of the particular fruit when it is not preserved; and
(b) Choice Grade dried fruit in a single container shall have a uniform colour and Standard Grade dried fruit in a single container shall have a reasonably uniform colour, where applicable. 

Reference of the measure

Regulation 2(1)(a) and (b) , 3-5 

Measure also domestic

Yes 

Products affected by the measure.

Description

Dried fruit i.e fruit in its original form or depipped, cut, peeled and dried by the sun-, solar-, tunnel-, oven-, wind or by other recognized methods of dehydration, excluding pureed, minced, cooked and baked dried fruit 

Countries/Regions affected by the measure.

Description

All countries