Recent enforcement actions across South Africa have highlighted an important reality: every food business is legally responsible for ensuring the food it produces, stores, transports, or sells is safe for consumers.
Whether you own a:
Restaurant
Takeaway
Bakery
Butchery
Catering company
Spaza shop
Coffee shop
Food truck
Home-based food business
Food manufacturer
Warehouse
food safety compliance is not optional.
One of the first things Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) will check during an inspection is whether your business has a valid Certificate of Acceptability (COA) issued in terms of Regulation R638 of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act. Businesses that handle food generally require a valid COA before operating.
Unfortunately, many businesses only discover this requirement after receiving a compliance notice—or worse, after being ordered to stop operating.
What Is a Certificate of Acceptability (COA)?
A Certificate of Acceptability (COA) is the minimum legal requirement for most businesses that handle food in South Africa.
It confirms that your food premises comply with the hygiene requirements contained in Regulation R638, which governs food premises, food transport, and related food safety requirements.
Without a valid COA, you may not legally operate food premises where food is handled, except where specific exemptions apply under the regulations.
The certificate is issued by your local municipality's Environmental Health Department after an inspection of your premises.
Who Needs a Certificate of Acceptability?
If your business handles food intended for human consumption, you will generally require a COA.
This includes businesses such as:
Restaurants
Cafés
Coffee shops
Bakeries
Caterers
Butcheries
Supermarkets
Food manufacturers
Food processors
Food distributors
Food warehouses
Food trucks
Home-based food businesses
School kitchens
Institutional kitchens
Spaza shops
If you prepare, process, package, store, transport, display, or sell food, you should confirm your obligations with your local municipality.
Why Businesses Are Being Shut Down
Having a COA is only one part of compliance.
Businesses are commonly closed because they fail to meet the hygiene and food safety requirements needed to obtain or maintain that certificate.
Some of the most common reasons include:
1. Operating Without a Valid Certificate of Acceptability
This is one of the most serious compliance failures.
If your business has never applied for a COA—or your certificate is no longer valid—you could face enforcement action.
Remember:
A COA is issued for specific food premises and is not transferable to another owner or another location. It must also reflect the nature of food handling carried out at the premises.
2. Poor Hygiene Standards
Inspectors regularly identify:
Dirty food preparation areas
Poor housekeeping
Unsanitary equipment
Poor waste management
Structural defects
Inadequate cleaning
These issues directly affect your ability to comply with Regulation R638.
3. Poor Pest Control
Evidence of:
Rats
Cockroaches
Flies
Birds
Rodents
can result in major non-conformances.
A documented pest management programme should form part of every food business.
4. Inadequate Temperature Control
Food must be stored and handled within safe temperature limits.
Businesses often fail because they:
don't monitor temperatures
have faulty refrigeration
don't calibrate thermometers
keep incomplete records
5. Poor Personal Hygiene
Employees should follow strict hygiene rules including:
Correct handwashing
Protective clothing
Hair restraints
Illness reporting
Personal cleanliness
Food handlers are one of the biggest potential sources of contamination.
6. Lack of Food Safety Documentation
Even businesses with a COA should maintain records that demonstrate food safety is managed consistently.
Good records include:
Cleaning schedules
Temperature logs
Supplier records
Maintenance records
Staff training records
Pest control reports
A COA Is the Starting Point—Not the Finish Line
Many businesses mistakenly believe that receiving a Certificate of Acceptability means they are "fully compliant."
In reality, the COA confirms that your premises meet the required hygiene standards at the time of inspection and that the business complies with the applicable regulatory requirements. Ongoing compliance depends on maintaining those standards every day.
As your business grows, customers—especially retailers, manufacturers, and export markets—may expect additional food safety systems such as:
ISO 22000
FSSC 22000
BRCGS
These standards build on the legal minimum by introducing structured food safety management systems and continuous improvement.
Simple COA Compliance Checklist
Before requesting a municipal inspection, ask yourself:
✅ Is my food premises clean and well maintained?
✅ Do I have handwashing facilities?
✅ Is pest control in place?
✅ Can food be stored safely?
✅ Are waste disposal procedures adequate?
✅ Are food handlers trained?
✅ Are cleaning schedules documented?
✅ Can I demonstrate good hygiene practices?
✅ Have I applied for my Certificate of Acceptability?
If you answer "No" to any of these questions, it's worth addressing those issues before your inspection.
How Shilux Can Help
At Shilux Food Safety Training & Consultation, we help businesses across South Africa become inspection-ready and build strong food safety systems.
Our services include:
Certificate of Acceptability (COA) readiness assessments
Regulation R638 compliance support
Municipal inspection preparation
Food premises hygiene assessments
HACCP implementation
Food Safety Management Systems
Internal audits
Food safety training
FSSC 22000 implementation
Whether you're opening a new food business or preparing for a municipal inspection, we can help you meet legal requirements and build a safer, more compliant operation.
Final Thoughts
If you're starting a food business in South Africa, your first food safety milestone is obtaining a valid Certificate of Acceptability under Regulation R638. It is the legal foundation for operating food premises and demonstrates that your business meets the required hygiene standards.
However, maintaining compliance requires more than simply displaying a certificate on the wall. Regular inspections, staff training, documented procedures, and continuous improvement are essential to protecting your customers and keeping your business operating successfully.
Investing in food safety today is far less costly than dealing with enforcement action, business interruption, or reputational damage tomorrow.
Ready to Obtain Your Certificate of Acceptability?
Shilux Food Safety Training & Consultation helps food businesses prepare for Certificate of Acceptability (COA) inspections, achieve compliance with Regulation R638, and implement practical food safety systems that support long-term success.
Contact Shilux today to schedule a COA readiness assessment and take the first step towards becoming fully food safety compliant.