In South Africa, protecting consumers and ensuring food safety isn’t just a best practice — it’s a legal requirement.
But navigating the country’s food laws can feel like trying to decode a complex puzzle. From international influences to national regulations and private sector standards, businesses need to understand what applies, who enforces it, and how to stay compliant.
Let’s break it all down and give you a clearer picture of how food legislation works in South Africa.
🌍 The Global Influence: Codex Alimentarius
At the foundation of South Africa’s food laws lies the Codex Alimentarius, a globally recognized collection of food standards, guidelines, and codes of practice.
- Created by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) in 1963
- Jointly established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
- Adopted by 189 members (188 countries + the EU)
💡 Why it matters: Codex guidelines influence many of South Africa’s food regulations, providing a science-based framework to protect public health and promote fair food trade globally.
🏛️ National Oversight: Who Regulates What?
In South Africa, food regulation is managed primarily by three government departments, each with its own focus:
1️⃣ Department of Health
- Oversees public health and food safety
- Manages food labelling, hygiene, and chemical safety
- Acts as South Africa’s national contact point for Codex matters
2️⃣ Department of Agriculture
- Focuses on primary agriculture, veterinary public health, and food control
- Regulates the quality of agricultural and animal-based food products
3️⃣ Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
- Manages consumer protection, product standards, and industry regulation
- Oversees compulsory specifications through agencies like the NRCS (National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications)
🧭 Navigating the Maze: Key Compliance Challenges
South Africa’s food regulatory system is multilayered and sometimes fragmented. Businesses may need to engage with multiple departments and comply with a range of laws, including:
- General hygiene regulations (e.g. Regulation R638 of 2018)
- Labelling laws (e.g. Regulation R146 of 2010)
- Sector-specific standards (e.g. HACCP requirements under R908)
- Municipal bylaws and zoning legislation
🌐 Private Standards and Global Expectations
Beyond legal compliance, food businesses — especially exporters — must meet private sector standards that often exceed South Africa’s minimum legal requirements.
Popular standards include:
- FSSC 22000 – a GFSI-recognized food safety management system
- BRCGS Food Safety – a leading global food safety certification
- GlobalG.A.P. – widely used in primary agricultural production
🏅 These standards are often required by major retailers, both local and international, and serve as a mark of credibility and consistency.
🧩 Summary: What Compliance Really Looks Like
To comply with South Africa’s food laws, your business needs to:
- Understand which national regulations apply to your product, premises, and processes
- Determine which department or municipality issues the necessary permits
- Stay informed about updates, like new food labelling regulations (expected late 2025 or early 2026)
- Implement private certification standards, if required by clients or trading partners
Success lies in staying proactive and building a strong food safety culture from the top down.
🎓 How Food Safety Matters Can Help You
📘 Regulation R638 Section 10(1): Training is Mandatory
This regulation requires that:
- The Person in Charge must complete accredited food safety training, or hold a qualification that includes food safety instruction (e.g. chef, food technologist).
- All food handlers must receive regular training in basic food hygiene.
👨🏫 We Offer:
✅ A SAATCA-accredited eLearning course for Persons-in-Charge
✅ A fun, interactive course for Food Handlers — “Become a Food Safety Hero!”
✅ Group discounts and custom branding options for companies
👉 Click here to explore our online training courses
🏁 Final Thoughts
Understanding South Africa’s food legislation may feel overwhelming at first, but it’s entirely manageable with the right guidance. By learning how international principles, national laws, and private standards fit together, your food business can achieve compliance, build consumer trust, and grow sustainably.
Let’s work together to ensure safe, nutritious, and high-quality food for all South Africans.