International visitors to South Africa, are urged to comply with biosecurity import requirements for agricultural and related regulated products.
The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), warned visitors not to bring prohibited agricultural products into the country.
This means the following goods cannot come into the country: Plants and related products, animals, insects and pathogens, dairy, growth medium and soil, liquor products, honey, pesticides and farm feeds.
Stock remedies and fertilisers must also be declared to inspectors at the ports of entry.
Mpho Sekgala, the department’s Acting Director from the Food Import and Exports Standards Directorate, said the department in partnership with other stakeholders, such as the Border Management Authority (BMA), are prioritising biosecurity compliance in respect to the movement of agricultural products.
“These products may harbour pests that occur in other countries, and their introduction may endanger South Africa’s competitiveness in trade, food security and agricultural productivity,” Sekgala said.
Sekgala also said that poultry, beef, eggs, pork (including lard), hides and skins and animal hair, require a veterinary import permit, while plant and plant products require a plant health import permit, both obtainable at the department’s Directorate: Food Import and Export Standards.
For live animals, an Animal Improvement Authorisation Permit, must first be issued and presented to the Veterinary Import Permit Office, as part of the prerequisites for application of an import permit for live animals as a legislative requirement.
“Pests and diseases are serious threats to the life and health of plants and animals. To bring any of the listed products and items into South Africa, an import permit or certificate is required unless the product has been exempted.
The importation of certain liquor products with alcohol content of more than 1% into the country for drinking purposes, is restricted, except on the authority of an import certificate issued by DALRRD” Sekgala added.
The South African food safety and food control systems are developed and enforced by three government departments, including DALRRD, Health, and Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), working together with relevant entities, including the BMA and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS).
Under South African agricultural products import laws, it is the responsibility of the importer to ensure that any product entering the South African territory is in full compliance with the sanitary and phytosanitary regulations or requirements as provided by the South African government.
Picture: Centre for Invasion Biology