South Africa to Implement Mandatory Pre-Shipment Certification for Chinese Auto Parts from September 20: Compliance Threshold Raised Again
Starting September 20, 2026, the South African government will officially implement the Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme for 25 categories of high-risk non-regulated products imported from China. Auto parts have been included in the control list; all relevant products must obtain a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) before shipment, or they will face return or heavy fines upon arrival at port
South Africa is one of Africa’s largest automotive markets and an important destination for Chinese auto parts exports. The implementation of this PVoC policy marks a full upgrade of South Africa’s import supervision of Chinese products from “inspection upon arrival at port” to “pre-shipment compliance verification”, with far-reaching implications for Chinese auto parts exporters.
1. Key Points of the Policy
Implementation date: officially effective from September 20, 2026
Scope of application: 25 categories of high-risk non-regulated products imported from China, with auto parts among them.
Core requirement: all relevant goods must complete inspection and testing before shipment and obtain a Certificate of Conformity (CoC).
Regulatory authority: the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has been designated as the competent authority, responsible for appointing and supervising inspection bodies to conduct testing and certification in the exporting country
Consequences of missing certification: arrival at port without a CoC will result in return or heavy fines.
Transition arrangement: the policy currently provides for a 6-month transition period, starting with China as the pilot and expanding to other exporting countries in the long run.
2. Policy Background and Coverage
The 25 categories of products covered by the PVoC programme include furniture, building materials, auto parts, machinery products, solar panels, toys, non-pressure cookware, gas appliances, taps, cosmetics and others
It is worth noting that this measure applies only to the non-regulated products listed in the schedule—products already subject to compulsory specifications regulated by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) of South Africa are excluded. If a listed product is later brought under compulsory specification control, it will automatically fall outside the scope of this directive
SABS stressed that the programme will not apply only to China in the long run. China was selected as the pilot because it is South Africa’s largest import partner and a major source of consumer goods
3. Impact on Chinese Auto Parts Exporters
1. Compliance costs rise, and front-loading the process becomes a hard requirement
Previously, exporting auto parts to South Africa mainly relied on the routine customs clearance process after arrival. Under the new rules, exporters must complete sampling inspection by SABS-accredited bodies and obtain a CoC certificate before shipment. This means compliance work must be substantially front-loaded, and companies need to plan their inspection and documentation lead times in advance
2. Shipping without certification carries extremely high risks
Goods that arrive without a CoC will be refused entry or face fines. For auto parts exporters, once goods are returned, they will incur high ocean freight, demurrage and return costs.
3. HS codes need to be checked immediately
The new rules cover only 25 specific categories of products, and not all auto parts fall within the control scope. Exporters need to immediately verify the HS codes of the products concerned to confirm whether they are on the mandatory control list
4. The 6-month transition period is a window of opportunity
The policy currently provides for a 6-month transition period, but shipping without certification during the transition period still carries risks. Exporters are advised not to rely on luck and to complete their compliance processes as soon as possible.
4. Practical Recommendations
First, verify HS codes immediately. Confirm whether the auto parts exported to South Africa are on the 25-category control list.
Second, contact SABS-accredited bodies in advance. Reach out to qualified inspection and certification bodies to understand the inspection process, fees and lead times, and start certification preparation as early as possible
Third, make the CoC a precondition for shipment. Only after completing all inspections and obtaining a valid CoC certificate should booking and loading be arranged.
Fourth, keep an eye on policy expansion. The programme will expand to other exporting countries in the long run, so exporters are advised to keep following SABS policy updates.
The mandatory pre-shipment certification for Chinese auto parts from September 20 is a landmark event in the comprehensive upgrade of import supervision in Africa’s largest automotive market. Arrival without a CoC will result in return or fines, and the compliance threshold has shifted from “inspection after arrival” to “must be completed before shipment”.
For auto parts exporters in Guangzhou, immediately verifying HS codes and completing the certification process in advance are the keys to maintaining their South African market share under the new rules. The 6-month transition period is a valuable adaptation window; companies are advised to build up PVoC compliance capabilities as soon as possible to avoid trade losses caused by missing documentation.
图片来源：新华社（记者 陈为 摄）
