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Perishable Products Export Control Act, 1983 (Act No. 9 of 1983)

Regulations

Regulations relating to the Export of Perishable Products, 2025 - effective July 2025

Chapter 7: Certification of Equipment, Handling and Storage Facilities and Modes of Transport

Part F: Specialised Refrigerated Vessels

35. Requirements for specialised refrigerated vessels

 

(1) The Board shall ensure that all equipment and facilities used for the handling, storage and transport of perishable product on specialised refrigerated vessels, to all destinations, comply with South African Standards, so as to ensure that the condition of perishable product is maintained, and to support food safety, hygiene, traceability and phytosanitary requirements.

 

(2) The Board may, unless specifically required to do so by agreement or by law, for the purposes of sub-regulation (1), take international standards into consideration in determining the suitability of equipment and/or facilities.

 

(3) All equipment used shall be subject to registration, inspection, approval and certification by the Board, such certifications to be based on an inspection or validation procedure based on risk assessment, as determined by the Board from time to time.

 

(4) The following requirements shall apply to specialised refrigerated vessels on which perishable product is transported:
(a) All cold storage spaces shall be pre-cooled to a RAT of minus 0.5˚C for chilled perishable product and minus 18˚C for deep frozen perishable product, for a minimum period of 48 hours prior to the inspection of the vessel, of which the last 24 hours of the said 48 hours shall be on temperature.
(b) For chilled perishable produce the RAT of all spaces shall be maintained between minus 1.0ºC to 0.0ºC for the last 24 hours.
(c) The general condition of all holds shall be clean and dry with no traces of any fungal growth, flaking rust and paint, rodent infestation, droppings or any odour or taint.
(d) Deck covers shall seal properly and insulation shall be intact, dry and properly affixed to keep heat leakage into the refrigerated spaces to a minimum.
(e) All gaskets, seals and insulation shall be in good condition.
(f) Floor gratings shall be in good physical condition, fit properly, be of the correct construction to allow for the free movement of the loading and unloading of perishable product, efficiently carry the perishable product mass, and allow sufficient air circulation for effective cooling of the perishable product.
(g) Air ducting and return air entrances and spaces shall be clean and allow unobstructed air flow to and from the perishable product.
(h) Deck heights shall not be less than 2.2m, or alternatively with the consent of the cold chain service provider the top layer of pallets may be broken down so as to permit air circulation at the return air grid.
(i) All fans shall be operational with decks closed during the Board inspection.
(j) All pallet boards shall be sturdy and properly mounted.
(k) Lighting shall be adequate and all lights have undamaged protective covers.
(l) Air bags used during the loading and securing process of the perishable product shall be of sufficiently good quality so as to be able to withstand the voyage.
(m) Vessels carrying chilled perishable product shall be equipped to allow adequate fresh air supply to the perishable product when necessary.
(n) During inspections, the air temperature shall not deviate in the hatches in excess of a maximum of 1.0˚C when measured with a calibrated thermometer.

 

(5) Cooling shall only be switched off, and hatches opened, once approval therefore has been granted by the Board.

 

(6) Vessels to be utilized for in-transit cold treatment shall comply with the specified carrying requirements of the importing country or the Board.

 

(7) A specialised refrigerated vessel, or any particular hold or deck thereof, shall be approved by the Board, or by a certification authority acceptable to the Board, and the Board may require that vessels be registered with the Board.

 

(8) Decks to be used for cold treatment shall be equipped with the required type and number of air and product temperature sensors, in the positions as specified by the importing country or the Board.

 

(9) Temperature recorders, data loggers and printers as specified by the importing country or the Board, shall be fitted and shall at all times be in good condition and capable of recording or printing all the data required for the entire duration of the voyage.

 

(10) All temperature control measuring and recording devices shall comply with the accuracy requirements as specified by the importing country, or the Board, as the case may be.

 

(11) Where required by the importing country, an empty deck test may be conducted by the Board.