South Africa Proposes Amendment to Its Liquor Act Regulations

On 20 December 2021 South Africa filed a notification under the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement with the World Trade Organization (WTO) that proposes regulations to amend the current composition, production, and labeling regulations for wine, liqueur, and spirits of the Liquor Products Act.

3E Review 

G/TBT/N/ZAF/48/Rev.2/Add.1 filed by the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries amends the Liquor Products Act 60 of 1989 (Regulations), published under Government Notice No. R. 1433 in the Government Gazette 12558 of 29 June 1990.

The proposed amendment to the Regulations includes the following changes:

• Defines separate requirements for the traditional South African sparkling wine Méthode Cap Classique
• Allows cider to be made up of 25% grape juice or an alcoholic fruit beverage derived solely from grape juice
• Creates a distinction between spirit aperitif and spirit

The latest amendment of the Regulations was published on 13 August 2021 (Liquor Products Act 60 of 1989: Regulations: Amendment, published under Government Notice No. R. 736, Government Gazette 44988).

More information can be found in the proposed amendment to the Regulations.

3E Analysis 

The date of adoption and entry into force are yet to be determined.

Interested parties may submit comments until 12 February 2022 to:

South Africa Bureau of Standards
Telephone: +27 12 428 6229
Email: wto@sabs.co.za