Welcome to the NRCS

Public entity. responsible to the Minister of Trade and Industries. administration of Compulsory Specifications (technical regulations). to protect human health and safety and the environment. THE NRCS MANDATE

Mandate Acts on behalf of the Minister of Trade & Industry under the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications Act (Act 5 of 2008). Trade Metrology Act (Act 77 of 1973) Foodstuffs, Cosmetics & Disinfectants Act, (Act 54 of 1972) NRCS Food inspectors are also appointed in terms of the FCD Act Acts on behalf of the Minister of Trade & Industry under the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications Act (Act 5 of 2008). Trade Metrology Act (Act 77 of 1973) Foodstuffs, Cosmetics & Disinfectants Act, (Act 54 of 1972) NRCS Food inspectors are also appointed in terms of the FCD Act

NRCS 1.Food and Associated Industries 2.Automotive 3.Chemical Mechanical and Materials 4.Legal Metrology 5.Strategic Support Services 6.Electro-technical

FOOD AND ASSOCIATED INDUSTRIES 1. THE NRCS ACT. 2. THE FOODSTUFF’S COSMETICS AND DISINFECTANTS ACT AND REGULATIONS. 3. CERTAIN TRADING COUNTRY REQUIREMENTS. 4. VARIOUS INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL VOLUNTARY STANDARDS (E.G. CODEX). ADMINISTERS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR VARIOUS FOODSTUFFS IN TERMS OF:

COMPULSORY STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS 1.Compulsory Specification for Frozen Fish, Frozen Marine Molluscs and Frozen products Derived Therefrom. 2.The Manufacture, Production, Processing and Treatment of Canned Fish, Canned Marine Mollusks and Canned Crustaceans. 3.The Manufacture, Production, Processing and Treatment of Canned Meat Products 4.Compulsory Specification for Frozen Rock Lobster Products Derived therefrom. 5.Compulsory Specification for Frozen Shrimps (Prawns), Langoustines and Crabs. 6.Compulsory Specification for Smoked Snoek. 7.Compulsory Specification for Live Aquaculture Abalone

1.REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FACTORIES 2.REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYEES 3.HYGIENIC OPERATING REQUIREMENTS 4.OTHER REQUIREMENTS ADDRESS: COMPULSORY SPECIFICATIONS

FAI THE DEPARTMENT IS THE RECOGNIZED COMPETENT AUTHORITY FOR THE REGULATION AND CONTROL OF VARIOUS FISH AND FISHERY PRODUCTS, BOTH NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY PARTICIPATES WORLDWIDE WITH OTHER REGULATORY BODIES EG FDA,DOF, AQIS,CFIA, ETC.

Staff Complement Staff component of General Manager 5 - Operational Managers 2 - Technical Specialist 29 – Inspection Staff 3 - Samplers 8 - Administration staff 3 – Laboratory Assistants

STAFF PLACEMENT

km Coastline 2.Exclusive South African fisheries zone of 200 nautical miles 3.The industry consist of: demersal hake trawl fishery pelagic purse seine fishery for anchovy and sardine. midwater trawl fishery targeting horse mackerel large pelagic fishery –tuna, swordfish and shark rock lobster industry squid jigging industry Background

< 1 % of GDP The South African commercial fishing industry is valued at about R5-8 billion annually. Economically, trawling is the most important activity. THE SOUTH AFRICAN FISHING INDUSTRY

Landingsites - Ports

The main commercial stocks fished in South Africa are sardine and anchovy, Cape hake, horse mackerel, rock lobster (“west” and “south” coast species), tunas and shark, loligo squid and a large group collectively referred to as “linefish”. The largest sector by volume is the anchovy and sardine fishery with stocks that fluctuate due to their short live span. The hake fishery comprises two species (shallow and deep-water Cape hake). Kingklip and Monk has strict catch limits. The Inshore Trawl fishery has two distinct operational sectors – vessels that target hake and those that target sole. Horse mackerel are a significant resource that is exploited by both mid-water and bottom-trawl. Main commercial resources

THE SOUTH AFRICAN FISHING INDUSTRY HAKE MT LOBSTER 2000 MT LOBSTER 350 MT PILCHARDS MT SQUID 7500 MT ABALONE 100 MT LARGE PELAGICS 3000 MT

30-40% Consume Locally % Exported The main exports include fish fillets, headed & gutted product and lobster products, but also crustaceans, tuna, skipjack, bonito, mackerel and octopus. Trade

The dominant countries taking South African fish products are : Australia – whitefish, fishmeal Europe – whitefish, tuna, squid and all other fish products United States – whitefish, lobster and tuna China – whitefish, lobster, fishmeal Japan – mostly tuna, squid, lobster and abalone Mozambique – Horse mackerel. Trade

The recent recession also impacted demand of fish products from South Africa, in particular to Europe, resulting in many big suppliers being forced to developed new markets. E.g.. Australia and Brazil

TECHNICAL SUPPORT ADMINISTERED COMPULSORY SPECIFICATIONS QUALITY SYSTEM REGULATING IMPORTS COMPETENT AUTHORITY FOR FISHERY PRODUCTS - EU TRAINING Main Functions

DIR 009 STAFF CONDUCT & DIRECTIVES FOR VARIOUS SCENARIOS PROC 006 (SUSPENSIONS & OTHER ACTIONS) MAN 007 QM-PLAN MAN 011 TRAINING PROC 007 DOCUMENT CONTROL MAN 001 POLICY & IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS (ISO 17020) MAN 004 MANUAL FOR SAMPLING MAN DIR 002 (A,B,C) DIRECTIVE FOR CANNED PRODUCTS FAI PROC 008 (CALIBRATION & VERIFICATION OF MEASURING INSTRUMENTS) DIR 003 DIRECTIVE FOR INSPECTION OF MARINE PRODUCTS PROC 009 (CONTROL OF HIGH RISK PRODUCTS) VARIOUS OPERATIONAL OR PRODUCT SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS EG QUALITY SYSTEM Accredited to ISO Guide 17020

RESIDENT OR VISITING INSPECTORS IN ALL AREAS  PLANT INSPECTIONS PERFORMED  OPERATION & SANITATION & HYGIENE MONITORED  RAW MATERIAL AND FINAL PRODUCT VERIFIED  CANNED PRODUCT INSPECTIONS, INCLUDING VERIFYING PROCESS CONTROL MEASURES  RANDOM SAMPLES OF FROZEN PRODUCTS TESTED PHYSICALLY, PHYSICALLY, ORGANOLEPTICALLY, MICROBIOLOGICALLY, CHEMICALLY, AS REQUIRED  EACH CONSIGNMENT FOR EXPORT SAMPLED AND AGAIN VERIFIED  SENSORY EVALUATION OF FISH PRODUCTS AN IMPORTANT TOOL OUR INSPECTION SYSTEM

CODEX STANDARDS ARE ACCEPTED AS A MINIMUM: WHERE THERE ARE NO COMPULSORY REQUIREMENTS  WHERE THE COUNTRY OF DESTINATION DOES NOT HAVE PARTICULAR REQUIREMENTS (ALL EXPORTED PRODUCT TO COMPLY TO CODEX STANDARDS)  TO HARMONISE ALL LOCAL STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS FOR WHICH CODEX STANDARDS EXIST. INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL STANDARDS THE DEPARTMENT ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN THE CODEX STANDARD SETTING PROCESS

Locally: MOU with DEAT (M & CM), Shellfish Programme - April 2005 Department of Health: Appointed as Inspectors Regionally: Namibian Government - Cooperation Agreement Mauritius: Technical Cooperation Agreement - February 2006 Mozambique: Technical Cooperation Agreement - October 2008 Internationally: European Union: Competent authority in South Africa - October 1996 Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service : Competent authority - June 2000 Papua New Guinea : Competent authority for fishery products: November 2000 Thailand Department of Fisheries - Technical Cooperation Agreement on Inspection & Certification of Fish and Fishery Products: September 2001 Brazil -Recognized as Competent authority for fish and fishery: April 2003 AGREEMENTS

Northern America Brazil Africa Reunion Mozambique Australia European Union Thailand China Japan HEALTH GUARANTEES FAI issued health guarantees to :

131 Facilities PROCESSING ESTABLISHMENTS

CANNING FACILITIES 14 Facilities

VESSELS 339 Vessels

OTHER OPERATIONS 38 Facilities

EU Processing facilities 68 Facilities

IMPORTED PRODUCT DETAINED BY CUSTOMS FOR PORT HEALTH. CANNED AND FROZEN FISHERY PRODUCTS AND CANNED MEAT REFERRED TO NRCS FOR INSPECTION AND RELEASE.

PROCEDURES WHEN IMPORTED CONSIGNMENTS ARRIVE CUSTOM OFFICIALS REFER TO PORT HEALTH PRODUCTS FALLING UNDER NRCS ACT REFERRED TO NRCS IMPORTERS COMPLETE UNDERTAKING WHEN REMOVED TO STORE NRCS RECEIVES BILLS OF ENTRY FROM PORT HEALTH NRCSS OFFICERS SAMPLE, INSPECT TEST AND COMMUNICATE RESULTS WITH IMPORTER AND PORT HEALTH. PORT HEALTH FOLLOWS-UP FOOD SAFETY ISSUES REPORTED TO THEM

A variety of sanctions are applied where products and services do not meet these minimum standards. These range from: stopping the sale of non-conforming products seizure, destruction prosecution of offenders. Sanctions

Non-conforming products 1 Non-conforming products are embargoed with a Directive served on the Importer / Operator and can only be: re-worked / re-labeled before sale destroyed where unsafe or unsuitable for trading, returned to country of origin where it is not a clear cut food safety problem