What is Port Health?
Port Health Services monitors and evaluates all foodstuffs, cosmetics, disinfectants, hazardous substances, and medicines entering the Western Cape through the ports, and controls and monitors the possible entering of all serious contagious diseases into the Western Cape and the rest of South Africa.
These infectious diseases include yellow fever, cholera, plague, and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
Port and Environmental Health is responsible for the three seaports (Cape Town, Mossel Bay, and Saldanha Bay) and the Cape Town International Airport.
- Airport Health Control
- Vessel Inspection
- Imported Foodstuffs
- Pharmaceuticals and Medicines
- Port Exports
Airport Health Control
If a passenger is suspected of having an infectious disease such as SARS and presents with symptoms during the flight, the crew will alert the Airports Company of SA who will notify the port health officer.
On arrival, a metro (emergency services) doctor, in conjunction with a Port Health Official (PHO), will assess the person, and the necessary measures will be taken (eg quarantine). Water and food supplies to aircraft are monitored.
Vessel Inspection
Vessels that seek entry to any of the three seaports must submit a Maritime Declaration of Health or practices 72 hours before entering the harbor. Vessels are checked for rodents and sanitation conditions.
A valid Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate (SSCEC) is required. According to international health regulations, an infected vessel must be fumigated. Water and food supplies to vessels are monitored.
Imported Foodstuffs
Imported foodstuffs are inspected at random for possible hazardous or toxic substances at all ports of entry. When goods are offloaded, they are usually removed under extended health guarantees and only released if the Port Health Official (PHO) is satisfied. All shipments must conform to the Foodstuff, Cosmetic, and Disinfectants Act, 54 of 1972.
Pharmaceuticals and Medicines
Products are checked to see whether they have been registered with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA).
Hazardous Substances
Consignments are only released if a valid Hazardous Substances license can be produced.
Port Exports
The port health authority will issue Free Sale certificates for the export of foodstuffs under certain conditions.
Port Health South Africa Contact Details
Tel: 021 421 1124
Fax: 021 418 5685
E-mail: portctn2@gmail.com
Postal address: P.O.Box 6489, Roggebaai 8012
Street address: Room 906,9th Floor, Customs House, Foreshore, Cape Town 8000.
Cape Town Airport contact details:
Call Centre: 021 937 1200
Flight information: 086 727 7888.
What does Port Health do?
Port health authorities are constituted with the primary objective of preventing the introduction into the country of dangerous epidemic, contagious and infectious diseases and ensuring the wholesomeness of imported food.