Non-Tariff Barriers

Non-Tariff Measure

NTM classification

A33: Packaging requirements 

Date when the measure came into force

18 May 2005 

Publication where the measure is specified

Government Gazette No. 27280, 18 February 2005 

Regulation where the measure is specified

Regulations Relating To The Grading, Packing And Marking Of Canned 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 sell canned fruit in the Republic of South Africa -
(c) unless such product complies with the types of pack referred to in regulation 6;
(d) unless such product complies with the packing media requirements referred to in regulation 7;
Types of pack
6. Canned fruit shall be presented as any one of the following types of pack:
(a) Regular pack which shall consist of fruit packed in a packing medium.
(b) Heavy pack which shall consist of crushed style fruit with or without sweetening ingredients and containing at least 73 percent drained mass.
(c) Solid pack which shall consist of practically all fruit with very little or no free flowing liquid.
Types and standards of packing media
7. (1) (a) Canned fruit shall be packed in any one of the following packing media:
(i) Water, where water is the sole packing medium.
(ii) Water and fruit juice(s), where water and juice from the fruit concerned, or water and any other single fruit juice or water and two or more fruit juices are combined in any proportion to form the packing medium.
(iii) Fruit juice(s), where -
(aa) juice from the fruit concerned, or any other compatible fruit juice, is the sole packing medium; or
(bb) two or more compatible fruit juices, which may include juice from the fruit concerned, are combined to form the packing medium: Provided that the fruit juices may be pulpy, turbid or clear.
(b) Any of the packing media mentioned in paragraph (a) may contain permitted nutritive sweeteners or non-nutritive sweeteners and flavourants.
(2) (a) When permitted nutritive sweeteners are added to water, water and fruit juice(s) or fruit juice(s), the packing media shall be classified on the basis of the cut-out strength as follows:
(i) Very light syrup - Not less than 9°Brix but less than 14°Brix.
(ii) Light syrup - Not less than 14°Brix but less than 18°Brix.
(iii) Syrup - Not less than 16°Brix but less than 20°Brix.
(iv) Heavy syrup - Not less than 18°Brix.
(b) The cut-out strength of any product must comply to the requirements mentioned in paragraph (a): Provided that 33,3 percent of the containers in an inspection sample may deviate by 1 "Brix.
(3) When permitted non-nutritive sweeteners are added to water the packing media shall be declared as -
(a) "packed in water sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners";
(b) "in water sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners";
(c) "packed in water sweetened with 'x'"; or
(d) "in water sweetened with 'x'" [where 'x' indicates the name(s) of the specific nonnutritive sweetener(s)].
(4) When no nutritive sweeteners or non-nutritive sweeteners are added to water, water and fruit juice(s) or fruit juice(s), the packing media shall be declared as -
(a) "packed in water";
(b) "in water";
(c) "packed in water and 'x' juice(s)";
(d) "in water and 'x' juice(s)";
(e) "packed in 'x' juice(s)"; or
(f) "in 'x' juice(s)", as the case may be [where 'x' indicates the name(s) of the specific fruit juice(s)].
REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTAINERS
General
8. (1) Containers for canned fruit shall -
(a) be intact, clean, suitable and strong enough for the packing and normal handling of the canned fruit: Provided that reusable containers shall be properly sterilised;
(b) be free from rust and serious dents or any other disorders which may detrimentally affect the quality of the product;
(c) not impart any undesirable taste or odour to the contents thereof; and
(d) be closed properly and in a manner permitted by the nature thereof.
(2) If containers containing canned fruit are packed in outer containers, such outer containers shall be clean, neat and intact.
PACKING REQUIREMENTS
General
9. (1) Except where otherwise stipulated in these regulations, canned fruit of different kinds, grades or styles shall not be packed together in the same container or outer container.
(2) Canned fruit shall, in the case of Manufacturer's Grade, be packed in A10 or larger containers.
(3) In the case of unspecified canned fruit mixes, the composition of each mix, in descending order, shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Officer.
(4) In the case of unspecified canned fruit, the proposed quality standards shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Officer. 

Reference of the measure

Regulations 2(1)(c)-(d), 6-9 

Measure also domestic

Yes 

Products affected by the measure.

Description

Canned fruit 

Countries/Regions affected by the measure.

Description

All countries