Port Elizabeth's container terminal — the principal trade gateway for the Eastern Cape and a major handling point for automotive supply chain imports — becomes an enforcement point for South Africa's new Certificate of Conformity rules from 20 September 2026, with importers across the Coega Industrial Development Zone among those facing the documentation overhaul.

Phase 1 of the SABS Pre-Export Verification of Conformity programme covers solar PV products, furniture, cosmetics, children's toys, and electrical appliances imported from Mainland China. From the September deadline, every shipment must reference a valid Certificate in its SAD500 declaration, as PR Africa reports. SARS Customs and the Border Management Authority can detain non-compliant containers under section 88(1)(a) of the Customs and Excise Act.

For Eastern Cape distributors serving the automotive aftermarket, retail furniture chains, and the renewable energy installation sector, the operational shift requires sourcing decisions to be reviewed for shipments arriving in the September window — including goods already on the water in late August.

Importers can register Certificate documentation through providers such as certificatesofconformity.co.za.