A technical packaging compliance barrier affecting sake imports and distribution has been lifted, at least temporarily.
The National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) has introduced temporary measures concerning container capacity regulations for sake under the South African National Standard SANS 289:2022, according to a statement issued by the Embassy of Japan in South Africa and the Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro) Johannesburg.
The measures mean packaged sake is no longer subject to container capacity restrictions. Sake sold for on-premises consumption at retail establishments, including restaurants and bars, may also be served in 25mL units or multiples of 25mL.
Jetro said the concession was significant because traditional sake bottle sizes did not fit neatly into South Africa’s regulated bottle-size requirements.
“With the implementation of these measures, container capacity restrictions on sake packaged and retailed within South Africa have effectively been removed. This concession and reduction of import barriers is significant as sake did not neatly conform to the standard bottle size measurements specified and regulated by SANS 289:2022,” Jetro said.
“This created a challenge in distribution, as traditional sake bottle sizes typically retail in 180mL increments, such as 720mL and 1.8L.”
The measures follow amendments to regulations under the Liquor Products Act in March 2025, which simplified procedures for the import of sake into South Africa.
They are being applied retroactively from the date of approval, February 9, 2026.
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