To protect all South African consumers against foodstuffs that are not up to standard, manufacturers and sellers of foodstuffs, have to adhere to specific legislative requirements.
Eden District Municipality’s (Eden DM’s) Municipal Health Section is the official authority that regulates and enforces the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act of 1972 (Act 54 of 1972) and all other applicable regulations.
Some regulations include the following:
- Certificate of Acceptability for food premises
In terms of REGULATION 962 OF 2012, REGULATIONS GOVERNING GENERAL HYGIENE REQUIREMENTS FOR FOOD PREMISES AND THE TRANSPORT OF FOOD UNDER THE FOODSTUFFS, COSMETICS AND DISINFECTANTS ACT, 1972 (Act 54 of 1972), no person shall handle food or permit food to be handled on food premises without having a legitimate Certificate of Acceptability. A person in charge of a premises containing foodstuffs, cosmetics or disinfectants, must apply for a certificate at any Eden DM Municipal Health office. An Environmental Health Practitioner will inspect a premises to ensure that it is compliant with relevant regulations. Thereafter an application fee of R165,90 is payable and a certificate of acceptability will be issued to the person in charge of the premises.
- Labelling and Selling of Foodstuffs
In terms of REGULATION 146 of 2010,THE REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE LABELLING AND ADVERTISING OF FOODSTUFFS, UNDER THE FOODSTUFFS, COSMETICS AND DISINFECTANTS ACT, 1972 (Act 54 of 1972) no person shall manufacture, import, sell or offer any pre-packaged foodstuffs for sale, unless the foodstuff containers, or bulk stock from which it is taken, is labelled in accordance with these regulations.
The minimum requirements for basic foodstuffs label are as follows (it does not an exempt the labelling of the product from the requirements of any other relevant legislation):
- The Name of the product
- The Name and address of the manufacturer
- The list of ingredients
- Special storage conditions
- The net content
- Country of origin
- Batch number
- Date marking
- The presence of preservatives
- The presence of common allergens
An example of the requirements are listed below:
| REQUIREMENTS | EXAMPLE |
| Name of food product (minimum 4mm): | Peach Jam Cookies |
| Name and address of manufacturer: | Tuisnywerheid
123 Church Street Oudtshoorn 6620 |
| Special storage conditions (3mm):
|
Keep in cool dry place
Use within 30 days after opening |
| The list of ingredients | List of Ingredeints:
Wheat flour, Sugar, Milk, Egg, Peach |
| Presence of any preservatives | Preservatives: Sulphur Dioxide |
| Presence of common allergens | Contains: Gluten, Cows Milk, Egg |
| Date marking (DD-MM-YYYY) | Best Before: 26-01-2018 |
| Batch Identification | Batch No: 26-01-2017 |
| The Net Contents | 250g |
| Country of Origin | Product of South Africa |
