On 16 February 2017, the WTO’s Committee on TBT circulated a notice, for comment, from South Africa for draft regulations prescribing specifications relating to the grading/classification, standards for classes, marking, packaging, sampling procedures and methods of inspection for bananas, on which comment is due by 16 April 2017.
The notice reads:
1. Notifying Member: SOUTH AFRICA
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):
2. Agency responsible: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above: Private Bag X393, ARCADIA 0001, Tel: +27 12 319 6070, Fax: +27 12 319 6055, E-mail: TebogoC@daff.gov.za
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [ ], 5.6.2 [ ], 5.7.1 [ ], other:
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Agriculture (ICS: 65)
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Regulations relating to the grading, packing and marking of bananas intended for sale in the Republic of South Africa (7 pages, in English)
6. Description of content: The draft regulations prescribe specifications relating to the grading/classification, standards for classes, marking, packaging, sampling procedures and methods of inspection for bananas.
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: Consumer information, Labelling; Quality requirements
8. Relevant documents: Draft Technical Regulation Relating to the Grading, Packaging and Marking of Bananas intended for the sale in the Republic of South Africa.
9. Proposed date of adoption: On date of publication
Proposed date of entry into force: On date of publication
10. Final date for comments: 60 days from notification
11. Texts available from: National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body.
