Food Control

Millions of people in the world fall ill and many die as a result of eating unsafe food. In 2000 the World Health Organisation (WHO) recognised food safety as an essential public health function.

The food control section within the department is responsible for ensuring the safety of food in South Africa. This service is based on the basic needs of communities and the right of South Africans to make informed food choices without being misled.

The main functions of food control include to –

  • Administer food legislation. This includes developing and publicising regulations for food safety, food labelling and related matters as well as developing technical guidelines where necessary
  • Inform, educate and communicate to industry, consumers, the media, government departments and other stakeholders about food safety and related matters
  • Audit and support Port Health Services in the provinces related to the control of imported foodstuffs. Audit and support Municipal Health Services in metros and district municipalities related to law enforcement, monitoring, information, education and communication and other activities
  • Evaluate risk assessments related to agricultural chemicals and food produced through biotechnology for the departments of agriculture and forestry and fisheries
  • Co-ordinate routine and specific food monitoring programmes and attend to food safety alerts
  • Act as South Africa’s National Contact Point for the joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) and the European Union Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF)
  • Convene or serve on national and international bodies that deal with food control matters.

Food Control

Description
List of Registered Fortification Mix Manufacturers / Suppliers / Importers 29 July 2024DOWNLOAD
Regulations governing the maximum limits for pesticide residues that may be present in Foodstuffs Amendment No. 4388 - 16 February 2024DOWNLOAD
List of Registered Fortification Mix Manufacturers / Suppliers / Importers - 1 March 2024DOWNLOAD
List of Registered Fortification Mix Manufacturers / Suppliers / Importers - 17 November 2023DOWNLOAD
Poster - 5 keys to safer food (English)DOWNLOAD
Poster - 5 keys to safer food (Sepedi)DOWNLOAD
Poster - 5 keys to safer food (Setswana)DOWNLOAD
Poster - 5 keys to safer food (Tshivenda)DOWNLOAD
Poster - 5 keys to safer food (isiXhosa)DOWNLOAD
Poster - 5 keys to safer food (Afrikaans)DOWNLOAD
Poster - 5 keys to safer food (SeSotho)DOWNLOAD
Poster - 5 keys to safer food (Isizulu)DOWNLOAD
Poster - 5 keys to safer food (Xitsonga)DOWNLOAD
FOODSTUFFS, COSMETICS AND DISINFECTANTS ACT, 1972
(ACT No. 54 OF 1972)
Regulations Relating to the Labelling and Advertising of Foodstuffs
DOWNLOAD
Labelling Regulations for Comment DOWNLOAD
Food Labelling GuidelinesDOWNLOAD
Nutrient Profile Software programme DOWNLOAD

Contact Us

FOOD RECALLS & EMERGENCIES (as per R638/2018):

Director: Food Control – Penny Campbell: 012 395 8799 / 072 373 6441

Whatsapp 072 373 6441 / 082 388 5242

1. Chemical Safety (Toxicology):
Additives, Contaminants, Packaged Water and Soft Drinks Regulations:
Deputy Manager: Ms YM Tsiane
yvonne.tsiane@health.gov.za
012 395 8779 / 063 680 2976
Juliet.Masuku@health.gov.za
012 395 9422 / 063 680 2766

Genetic Modification (GM), Pesticides, MRLs:
Deputy Manager: Ms A Madzivhandila
aluwani.madzivhandila@health.gov.za
012 395 9359 / 063 680 2565

2. Regulatory Nutrition & Interagency Matters:
Manager: Malose Daniel Matlala
WHO, FAO, AU, other Departments etc.
malose.matlala@health.gov.za
012 395 8789 / 079 693 3632

2.1. Nutritional Labelling, General Labelling:
Deputy Manager: Ms N Hoosen
012 395 9754
Medical Biological Scientist
anna.godzwana@health.gov.za
012 395 8174 / 063 680 2623

2.2. Codex Office: Codex, SPS, TBT:
cacpsa@health.gov.za
012 395 8789 / 012 395 9270 / 079 693 3632

3. Biological Safety & Programme Support:

3.1. Biological Safety:
Food Hygiene, HACCP, Microbiological matters, Irradiation, Emergency matters (EU RASFF):
Deputy Manager: Ms SY Parring
shirley.parring@health.gov.za
012 395 8785 / 063 680 2959

3.2. Programme Support:
Training requests/FCC meetings/General Enquiries & IEC/Webpage/Media materials/laboratory testing/Monitoring:
Mr SC Thabethe
chris.thabethe@health.gov.za
012 395 8790 / 063 680 0878

4. Any other query or assistance:
Contact/Refer to Ms E Pienaar / Ms EM Mampheko
elize.pienaar@health.gov.za / evelyn.mampheko@health.gov.za
012 395 8800 / 012 395 9740

Access to our Webpage for all Legislation and Guidelines:

Please note the page is under re-construction and that not all links have been reactivated.

(Contact Mr SC Thabethe as per above)