. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/ZAF/8
19 November 1999
(99-5037)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  SOUTH AFRICA
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Department of Health
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, whereapplicable).  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Barley, buckwheat, grain sorghum, groundnuts, maize, oats, oilseed rape
(canola), rice, rye, soya beans, sunflower seed or wheat.  All countries that export these
products to South Africa.
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  (Draft) Regulations Governing the
Tolerances for Certain Seeds in Certain Agricultural Products.  Government Notice
No. R.1202 dated 15 October 1999 (3 pages)
5. Description of content:  Limits the number of seeds of Argemone mexicana, Convolvulus
spp, Crotolaria spp, Datura spp, Ipomoea purpurea, Lolium temulentum, Ricinus communis
or Xanthium spp. to 1 seed per 10 kg of each of the mentioned agricultural products.  Soya
beans may contain 3 seeds per 10 kg (excluding soya beans intended for consumption by
infants or young children).  Does not apply to an agricultural product that will undergo
sifting to reduce the number of poisonous seeds or that is intended for animal consumption.
6. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [     ] protect territory from
other damage from pests           
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:           
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Government Gazette
No. 20536 dated 15 October 1999 (Available in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  When the final regulations are published in the Government
Gazette.  This will not be before 1 April 2000.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  On publication of the final regulations in the
Government Gazette.G/SPS/N/ZAF/8
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  15 January 2000
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [     ] National notification
authority, [     ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:
Director:  Food Control
Department of Health
Private Bag X828
Pretoria 0001
South Africa
Tel:  +(27 12) 312 0185
Fax:  +(27 12) 326 4374
E-mail:  ventert@hltrsa.pwv.gov.za
12. Texts available from: [     ] National notification authority, [     ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
Director:  Food Control.  Details as above