South Africa - Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) Phase 1 Pilot Program

This notice serves as the official public announcement of the PVoC program and provides comprehensive information regarding the program's objectives, scope, institutional arrangements, operational procedures, stakeholder obligations, and engagement opportunities. The program will commence with a structured, six-month voluntary transitional period (March 20, 2026 - September 20, 2026), during which no mandatory compliance obligations apply.

The following arrangements will apply to shipments falling within the scope of the PVoC  program: 

• Shipments made before March 20, 2026 

Goods shipped before March 20, 2026 will not be subject to CoC verification at the customs clearance stage. 

• Shipments made from March 20, 2026 to September 20, 2026 

For goods shipped between March 20, 2026 and September 20, 2026, where no certificate of conformity (CoC) is provided,  consignments may be subjected to risk-based random inspections, reviews, and compliance checks against applicable South African National Standards (SANS) by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), for system testing, process validation, and operational readiness of the PVoC framework. 

Following the conclusion of the six-month transitional period, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) will 

formally communicate further decisions regarding the mandatory implementation of the PVoC program.

For the List of High risks unregulated products​ - click here​.

​