By Rorisang Modiba
- The government will test imported things like phone chargers and cosmetics for safety before they reach South Africa in September.
- Officials will start by checking goods from China because it is the biggest import partner for South Africa right now.
South Africans will soon be protected from dangerous everyday items like exploding phone chargers and toys that contain harmful chemicals.
The government is bringing in strict new rules to stop poor-quality and unsafe products from being sold in the country.
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has launched a system to check imported goods before they are shipped.
Importers will now need a special certificate to prove their products meet local safety and quality standards.
The South African Bureau of Standards will oversee the new testing process. Customs officials will enforce the rules at the borders.
The government is focusing on products that are not currently checked. These items have been slipping through the cracks.
The new safety checks will target electrical appliances that can catch fire and phone chargers that can overheat and explode.
Toys with harmful chemicals, cosmetics and hygiene products like nappies will also be tested for safety.
Inspectors will check furniture and mattresses to make sure they are durable and do not pose a fire risk.
High-risk items like gas equipment and some building materials will face even stricter checks to ensure they are safe.
The new rules were published on 20 March 2026. They are expected to start around the end of September.
Businesses will have six months to prepare before the government starts full enforcement of the new safety programme.
The system will start with checking goods coming from China.
Officials say the new rules are not targeting one country. China was chosen because it is South Africa’s biggest import partner.
The testing programme could expand to include other countries later.
Pictured above: Shipping containers.
Image source: Pexels
