Primary briefing · Gazette
high impact 54900 · R.7619, R.7620, R.7621, R.7622 · 2026-06-26
Dairy statutory measures commence 1 July 2026 — registration, levies, and reporting obligations across tariff headings 04.01–04.06
Effective from
01 Jul 2026
Government Notices R.7619–R.7621, issued under the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act 47 of 1996, impose three interlocking statutory measures on the secondary dairy industry effective 1 July 2026. R.7619 requires all persons in the secondary dairy industry to register with Milk SA within 30 days of commencement. R.7620 mandates record-keeping for a minimum of five years and monthly returns to Milk SA within 15 days of each month-end. R.7621 introduces statutory levies on milk and dairy products falling under customs tariff headings 04.01–04.06, payable within 15 days after the month in which the levy liability arose, with escalating rates through 2030; at least 20% of levy income must be spent on empowerment of previously disadvantaged individuals. All three measures lapse after four and a half years. Notice R.7622, issued by SARS under the Customs and Excise Act 91 of 1964, repeals and substitutes the rules for section 15 in their entirety, introducing the electronic South African Traveller Management System (SATMS) for online traveller declarations at all ports of entry and exit, also effective 1 July 2026.
Who is affected
Dairy processors and manufacturersMilk producers who process or sell their own milkImporters and exporters of milk and dairy productsRetailers selling raw milkCustoms brokers and clearing agentsAgricultural and food-sector commercial lawyersTravellers entering or leaving South AfricaAirlines, shipping lines, and transport operators What this means for practitioners
Dairy industry clients must register with Milk SA within 30 days of 1 July 2026 (by 31 July 2026)
Establish record-keeping systems compliant with R.7620 and prepare for monthly returns due within 15 days of each month-end
Calculate levy exposure across all products under tariff headings 04.01–04.06 and set up payment processes to meet the 15-day post-month deadline
Customs practitioners should review the new SATMS traveller declaration rules replacing all prior section 15 rules and update client advisories and border-operations procedures before 1 July 2026
Notify any change in registration information to Milk SA within 30 days of the change