Every food business in South Africa — from a Sandton restaurant to a Soweto spaza shop, a Pretoria takeaway to a Cape Town bistro, a Durban sushi bar to a Polokwane bakery — legally requires a Certificate of Acceptability (COA) under Regulation R638 of 2018. This guide explains exactly what a COA is, why it matters, who needs one, and how to get one — followed by ASC’s affordable end-to-end compliance options for every size of food business. About ASC’s two domains: You’re on ascfoodsafety.com — the parent website for consulting, gap audits, FSMS implementation, and document toolkits. For online accredited courses (R638 PIC, Spaza Shop training, Food Handler training, HACCP, FSSC 22000, BRCGS, GLOBALG.A.P.), visit our dedicated training site at ascfoodsafetytraining.com. A Certificate of Acceptability — abbreviated COA and sometimes informally called an “R638 certificate” — is the mandatory legal permit issued to food premises by your local municipality’s Environmental Health Department. It confirms that your premises comply with the hygiene requirements of Regulation R638 of 2018 under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act 54 of 1972. Put simply: a COA is the document that legally authorises you to handle, prepare, store, serve, transport or sell food to the public in South Africa. Without a valid COA, your food business is operating illegally — regardless of size, location, or how long you’ve been trading. South African food businesses often need several permits at once. Here’s how the COA relates to the others: Regulation R638 of 22 June 2018 — Regulations Governing General Hygiene Requirements for Food Premises, the Transport of Food and Related Matters — was promulgated under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act 54 of 1972 and published in Government Gazette No. 41730. It replaced the previous Regulation R962 of 2012 and is now the primary national hygiene standard governing all SA food premises. 📄 Download the official Regulation R638 PDF from the South African Government Gazette Walls, floors, ceilings, ventilation, lighting, drainage, pest-proofing, layout, water supply. Handwashing, toilets, changing rooms, storage areas, waste handling. Containers, appliances and equipment standards — must be food-safe and cleanable. Chilled food ≤5°C · Frozen food ≤-18°C · Hot-held food ≥60°C · FIFO rotation · cross-contamination controls. Aprons, hairnets, closed shoes, separate work/street uniforms. Mandatory accredited PIC training. The single most-failed requirement. Basic food hygiene training for every staff member who touches food. Butchery-specific requirements — carcass handling, meat-area cleaning, additional training. Refrigerated & non-refrigerated transport of food — vehicle hygiene, temperature, certified COA copy in vehicle. The COA is not a formality. Operating without one carries severe consequences across five distinct dimensions: Operating without a COA is a criminal offence under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act 54 of 1972 — with fines or imprisonment. EHPs can close your premises on the spot — no court order required. You lose every trading day until compliant. You cannot obtain or renew your municipal business licence without a valid COA. Public liability cover may be voided if a customer suffers foodborne illness on premises operating without a valid COA. Major retailers, franchisors and corporate clients refuse to list, supply, or contract with non-COA-compliant suppliers. The City of Tshwane closed Boxer Superstore in Atteridgeville and fined Burger King outlets for operating without valid COAs. Enforcement across all major SA cities — Joburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban — has accelerated meaningfully through 2025–2026. Inspections are no longer rare events. Beyond the regulatory and commercial reasons, the COA exists for a simple public-health reason: foodborne illness in South Africa kills people. The 2017–2018 listeriosis outbreak linked to processed meat caused over 200 deaths and was directly attributable to inadequate food safety controls. R638 exists precisely so that the structural, training and operational gaps that allowed listeriosis to spread are closed at every food premises in the country. If your business handles, prepares, stores, serves, transports or sells food to the public, R638 applies to you. Size and informality are not exemptions. A spaza shop in Soweto needs a COA for the same reasons a Sandton hotel kitchen does. If you touch food that other people will eat, and money changes hands — you need a COA. The Person in Charge must hold a SAATCA- or HPCSA-accredited food safety certificate before the application can be approved. Getting a COA is a structured process. Follow these seven steps in order: Get the official R638 PDF and read the sections relevant to your premise type. ASC’s R638 PIC course includes R638 as a downloadable resource. The Person in Charge must complete SAATCA- or HPCSA-accredited food safety training. ASC’s R638 PIC course is R1 650 — 17 hours, SAATCA TC No. 065. Section 10(1)(b) requires every food handler — kitchen staff, cleaners, anyone who touches food — to receive basic hygiene training. ASC’s Food Handler course covers this. Build the documentation system R638 requires — cleaning schedules, temperature logs, pest control records, training matrix. ASC’s R699 TK11 toolkit provides 40+ ready-to-use templates. Submit the COA application form (specific to your municipality) with all required documents to your local Environmental Health Department. An Environmental Health Practitioner inspects your premises against R638. If compliant, the COA is issued. If not, you receive a written notice of non-conformances and a remediation period. The COA must be displayed in a publicly visible location at the premises. If you transport prepacked food, each vehicle must carry a certified copy. Most failed COA applications fail at Step 6 (the EHP inspection) because issues weren’t caught at Steps 4–5. A R2 500 half-day on-site gap audit between Step 4 and Step 5 catches non-conformances before the EHP does — turning a likely fail into a likely first-time pass. Different municipalities use slightly different application forms, but all require this core documentation: Butcheries additionally require training records in meat-related cleaning under R638 Section 6(8) and Annexure F. Municipal COA fees vary widely. Here’s the current picture for major SA municipalities: Legitimate COA fees are always paid at official municipal pay points or online portals — never to an EHP in person. If an “inspector” demands cash, it is a scam. Report to SAPS and the Anti-Corruption Hotline: 0800 701 701. Now that you understand what a COA is, why it matters, and how to get one — here’s how ASC Food Safety Consultants can help, at any budget level. Transparent fixed pricing, same nationwide. R699 toolkit + R1 650 PIC training = R2 349 total — a complete DIY COA compliance kit for any small SA food business. Add the R2 500 half-day gap audit when you’re ready for professional verification. Total all-in: R4 849. Beats every other accredited consultancy in the country. We scope your business, premises and target municipality. No commitment, no charge. On-site for Gauteng / WC / EC; video-led for KZN, FS, MP, LP, NW, NC. Detailed prioritised report within 48 hours. Use the R699 TK11 toolkit; we recommend pest control, sanitation suppliers. Enrol the PIC in FS01 (R1 650) or FS28 (R879) for spaza/informal. Submit your COA application; we remain on call during the EHP visit. Blue = Gauteng flagship · Green = on-site service from a physical office · Amber = remote-first with optional on-site visits Flagship Region Cities served: Johannesburg · Sandton · Randburg · Roodepoort · Soweto · Midrand · Pretoria · Centurion · Hatfield · Brooklyn · Menlyn · Boksburg · Benoni · Kempton Park · Edenvale · Germiston · Alberton · Brakpan · Springs · Bryanston · Fourways · Northcliff · Linden · Florida · Honeydew · Diepkloof · Orlando · Atteridgeville · Mamelodi · Tembisa · Alex · Diepsloot Gauteng is South Africa’s densest food business market and ASC’s flagship service region. Our Randburg consultant has personally walked food premises in Sandton CBD, Rosebank, Greenstone, OR Tambo, Centurion, Pretoria CBD, Hatfield, Boksburg, Kempton Park, Edenvale, Soweto, Roodepoort, Midrand, Mamelodi, Atteridgeville, and Tembisa. Travel within Greater Gauteng is included in the R2 500 half-day gap audit. Sandton · Randburg · Roodepoort · Soweto · Midrand. Health and Social Development Department. EH One Stop — ehonestop@tshwane.gov.za · R2 152 inspection fee. Active enforcement 2025–2026. 011 999 6458 · Cnr Avon & Main Reef Rd, Longdale. OR Tambo airport catchment. Highest concentration of upmarket food service businesses in SA. Logistics corridor between Joburg and Pretoria — cold-chain, food manufacturing, contract caterers. OR Tambo airport catchment. Industrial food manufacturing, airline catering. Townships with high concentration of spaza shops and informal food traders. Use the R879 FS28 course. Pretoria townships — ASC’s R879 FS28 spaza training is built precisely for these markets. The City of Tshwane closed Boxer Superstore in Atteridgeville and fined Burger King outlets for operating without valid COAs. Enforcement across Gauteng has accelerated meaningfully through 2025–2026. If your Tshwane business is unsure of its COA status — book the R2 500 gap audit before the EHP finds you. On-Site Service Cities served: Cape Town · Bellville · Sea Point · Camps Bay · V&A Waterfront · Constantia · Stellenbosch · Paarl · Franschhoek · Wellington · Somerset West · Strand · Hermanus · Caledon · Worcester · Ceres · George · Mossel Bay · Knysna · Plettenberg Bay The Western Cape is SA’s premium food and hospitality region. ASC’s Cape Town office covers the metro plus the Cape Winelands and the Garden Route — wine estates, V&A restaurants, Atlantic seafood, fruit packhouses. 100% online via e-Services portal since 1 July 2024. FREE — no municipal fee. Fastest COA in SA (4–6 weeks). Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek wine estates with cellar-door operations and restaurants. Cape Town Harbour, Saldanha, Hout Bay, Lambert’s Bay — seafood processors, abalone farms. George, Mossel Bay, Knysna, Plett — tourism F&B, oyster bars, deli operations. Cape Flats townships — high spaza shop and informal trader concentration. R879 FS28 course built for this. Remote+ Service Cities served: Durban · Umhlanga · Ballito · Berea · Glenwood · Westville · Pinetown · Pietermaritzburg · Howick · Richards Bay · Empangeni · Margate · Port Shepstone eThekwini Municipality applies both R638 AND its own Food, Milk and Milk Products By-laws (2022). Community Health Department: 031 311 2911. Remote-first delivery with on-site visits available. R638 + eThekwini By-laws (2022) apply. 6–10 week timeline. Premium tourism corridor — high-end resort catering, beach restaurants. Capital city — government catering, university residences, midlands tourism. Townships with high spaza concentration. R879 FS28 course aligned to township realities. On-Site Service Cities served: Gqeberha (PE) · Kariega · Despatch · Uitenhage · East London · Mdantsane · King William’s Town · Mthatha · Grahamstown / Makhanda · Jeffreys Bay · Cintsa · Hogsback Gqeberha is ASC’s head office — 10+ years of EC food safety experience across automotive plant catering, citrus packhouses, hospitality, and informal traders. 041 506 5400 · 14th Floor Brister House, Govan Mbeki Ave. 043 050 5683 / 043 705 2000. Coastal tourism + Mercedes-Benz automotive. Kirkwood, Addo, Patensie — citrus capital of SA. EC’s largest townships — R879 FS28 course built for spaza shops and informal traders. Remote+ Service Mangaung Metro, UFS catering, Goldfields mining, Eastern Free State tourism (Clarens). Remote-first with on-site visits to Bloemfontein quoted upfront. Spaza shops in Mangaung townships → R879 FS28. Remote+ Service Lowveld Kruger gateway lodges, Sasol/Anglo contract catering, citrus & sub-tropical fruit packhouses. KaNyamazane and other townships — FS28 spaza course. Remote+ Service Provincial capital catering, ZZ2 avocado/macadamia/citrus packhouses, big-game lodge F&B (Hoedspruit). Seshego and other townships — FS28 spaza course. Remote+ Service NWU residences, Anglo/Sibanye/Implats contract catering, cattle/grain belt. Mafikeng and Rustenburg townships — FS28 spaza course. Remote+ Service Sol Plaatje University catering, Orange River table grape/raisin packhouses, Karoo astronomy tourism (SALT). Galeshewe and Upington townships — FS28 spaza course. The mandatory legal permit issued to food premises by your local municipality’s Environmental Health Department, confirming compliance with Regulation R638 of 2018 under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act 54 of 1972. Every food business in SA legally requires one before trading. Five reasons: (1) operating without one is a criminal offence; (2) EHPs can close your premises immediately; (3) you cannot get a trading licence without it; (4) public liability insurance may be voided; (5) major retailers and franchisors won’t list non-compliant suppliers. Every food business — restaurants, takeaways, spaza shops, food trucks, dark kitchens, manufacturers, butcheries, packhouses, hospital kitchens, online food sellers, food transport vehicles. Rule of thumb: if you touch food that other people will eat and money changes hands, you need a COA. 7 steps: (1) Download R638; (2) Complete accredited PIC training; (3) Train food handlers; (4) Prepare premises & documentation; (5) Apply at municipality; (6) Pass EHP inspection; (7) Display COA. ASC supports every step. R2 500 for a half-day on-site audit, including travel within Greater Gauteng — Johannesburg, Sandton, Pretoria, Midrand, Randburg, Centurion, Roodepoort, Soweto, Boksburg, Benoni, Kempton Park, Edenvale, Germiston. Written gap report within 48 hours. For small operations — spaza shops, home-based bakers, single-owner food trucks — DIY is perfectly viable with the right resources. ASC offers R879 FS28 spaza course, R1 650 FS01 PIC course, and the R699 TK11 toolkit. The R2 500 half-day audit is the safety net before EHP day. Apply at your regional EH office (Sandton, Randburg, Roodepoort, Soweto, Midrand) under City of Johannesburg Health and Social Development. ASC’s Randburg office provides on-site support across all Joburg regions. Yes — FS28 Food Safety for Spaza Shops, Vendors and Informal Traders, R879. Online, self-paced, R638-aligned, accredited. Enrol on the training site. R699 once-off, 40+ editable Word/Excel templates aligned to Regulation R638. Includes 1 hour premium support. Designed for small food businesses, spaza shops, home-based food, food trucks. View TK11 → 100% online via the e-Services portal at eservices.capetown.gov.za since 1 July 2024. FREE — no municipal fee. ASC’s Cape Town office handles full on-site support across the metro plus Stellenbosch/Paarl/Franschhoek/Garden Route. No statutory expiry under R638. However, you must notify the municipality within 30 days if the PIC, premises layout, ownership, or transport vehicles change. No. A COA is not transferable — issued to a specific PIC at a specific premises. New ownership or new PIC = new COA application required. Criminal offence under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act 54 of 1972. Immediate closure by EHP without court order, fines, imprisonment, civil liability. In March 2025 City of Tshwane closed Boxer Atteridgeville and fined Burger King outlets. Direct link: https://saatca.co.za/training-course-providers/online-registered-training-course-providers/ — TC No. 065. Mthokozisi Nkosi is also listed on SAATCA’s Registered Implementers directory. ascfoodsafety.com (this site) is the parent — consulting, gap audits, FSMS implementation, document toolkits. ascfoodsafetytraining.com is the training arm — online accredited courses (FS01 R638 PIC, FS28 Spaza Shop, FS02 Food Handler, FS10 HACCP). Both share identical accreditation. SAATCA TC No. 065 · HPCSA · FoodBev SETA · BBBEE Level 1 · 1 of only 3 SAATCA Registered R638 Lead Implementers in SA. Choose what suits your business — pay nothing else. Same prices nationwide. Book Free 15-Min Call Gauteng (Randburg HQ): +27 10 500 4661 · Western Cape: +27 21 300 4024 · Eastern Cape: +27 41 004 0382 · info@ascfoodsafety.com Parent: ascfoodsafety.com · Online training: ascfoodsafetytraining.com © ASC Food Safety Consultants · Online training: ascfoodsafetytraining.com · SAATCA TC No. 065 (officially listed) · HPCSA · FoodBev SETA 587/00337/1900 · BBBEE Level 1
Certificate of Acceptability (COA) in South Africa: What It Is, How to Get One & Affordable R638 Help in Every City
📌 TL;DR — COA & ASC’s Help in 60 Seconds
1. What Is a Certificate of Acceptability (COA)?
1.1 COA vs Other Permits — Don’t Confuse Them
Document
Issued By
Purpose
Required?
Certificate of Acceptability (COA)
Municipality (Environmental Health)
Food hygiene compliance under R638
Mandatory
Business Licence
Municipality (Licencing)
General trading authorisation
Required separately — needs valid COA first
Liquor Licence
Provincial Liquor Authority
Sale of alcohol
Only if selling alcohol
Zoning Certificate
Municipality (Town Planning)
Confirms premises zoned for food business
Required for COA application
Fire Compliance Certificate
Municipality (Fire Services)
Building/fire safety compliance
Often required for COA
HACCP Certificate
Accredited certification body (e.g. SGS, BV)
Voluntary FSMS certification
Required by retailers/exporters — not by law
2. Understanding Regulation R638 of 2018
2.1 What R638 Regulates
Reg 5 — Premises Standards
Reg 6 — Facilities
Reg 7 — Equipment
Reg 8 — Temperature & Storage
Reg 9 — Protective Clothing
Reg 10 — Person in Charge
Reg 11 — Food Handlers
Reg 12 — Meat & Annexure F
Reg 13 — Transport
3. Why a COA Is Important — 5 Reasons You Cannot Trade Without One
1. Criminal Liability
2. Immediate Closure
3. Trading Licence Block
4. Insurance Voided
5. Corporate Delisting
3.1 The Public Health Reason Behind All of This
4. Who Legally Needs a Certificate of Acceptability?
Category
Examples Requiring a COA
Food Service
Restaurants · cafés · coffee shops · fast-food outlets · franchises (KFC, Spur, Steers, Wimpy, Burger King) · takeaways · delivery kitchens · dark/cloud/ghost kitchens · canteens · staff cafeterias · school tuck shops · hospital kitchens · prison kitchens · corporate catering · conference catering
Retail & Manufacturing
Supermarkets · grocery stores · spaza shops · bakeries · delis · butcheries · food manufacturers (FMCG, beverages, baked goods) · abattoirs · confectioneries · ice cream parlours · juice bars
Mobile & Informal
Food trucks · mobile catering units · street food vendors · market traders · event caterers · informal traders · pop-up kitchens · hawkers · taverns selling food
Home-Based & Online
Home bakers selling commercially · home-based caterers · meal-prep businesses · Instagram/WhatsApp food sellers · Yuppiechef vendors · UberEats home kitchens · meal subscription services
Transport & Distribution
Vehicles transporting perishable or prepacked food · refrigerated delivery fleets · cold chain operators · courier food delivery
Healthcare & Institutional
Hospital kitchens · old age homes · schools · retirement villages · day care centres · crèches · university residences
Agricultural
Packhouses · processors · citrus packhouses (Sundays River, Hoedspruit) · table grape packers (De Doorns, Upington) · avocado packhouses (Tzaneen) · fresh produce handlers · farm shops · farm-gate sales
4.1 Who Does NOT Need a COA
5. How to Get a Certificate of Acceptability — The 7-Step Process
Download Regulation R638
Complete Accredited PIC Training
Train Your Food Handlers
Prepare Your Premises & Documentation
Apply at Your Municipality
Pass the EHP Inspection
Display Your COA
6. Documents Required for a COA Application
7. Municipal COA Fees — What You Pay Where
Municipality
Fee
Typical Timeline (if compliant)
City of Cape Town
FREE (online portal)
4–6 weeks
City of Tshwane (Pretoria)
R2 152.00
4–8 weeks
City of Johannesburg
Varies by region
4–10 weeks
City of Ekurhuleni
Inspection fee applies
6–12 weeks
eThekwini (Durban)
Varies
6–10 weeks
Nelson Mandela Bay (Gqeberha/PE)
Varies
4–8 weeks
Mangaung (Bloemfontein)
Varies
4–8 weeks
Polokwane / Mbombela / Mahikeng / Kimberley
Varies
4–10 weeks
8. ASC’s Four Affordable Options — Transparent Pricing Nationwide
Half-Day R638 Gap Audit
Basic Food Safety Document Templates Toolkit (TK11)
R638 Persons in Charge Online Course (FS01)
Food Safety for Spaza Shops, Vendors & Informal Traders (FS28)
9. How the ASC Service Works — 6-Stage Process
Free 15-Min Scoping Call
Site Visit / Video Audit
Written Gap Report
Remediation Support
PIC Training
Apply & Inspect
10. National Coverage Map — All 9 Provinces
📍 Where ASC Delivers COA Compliance Service
11. Gauteng — Our Flagship Service Region
🏢 Greater Gauteng — On-Site from Randburg HQ
City of Johannesburg
City of Tshwane (Pretoria)
City of Ekurhuleni
Sandton & Northern Suburbs
Midrand & Centurion
East Rand (Boksburg, Benoni, Kempton Park)
Soweto, Alex, Tembisa, Diepsloot
Mamelodi, Atteridgeville
12. Western Cape — Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Garden Route
🍇 Western Cape — On-Site from Cape Town Office
City of Cape Town
Cape Winelands District
Atlantic Seafood Belt
Garden Route
Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain, Gugulethu
13. KwaZulu-Natal — Durban, Pietermaritzburg, North & South Coast
🌴 KwaZulu-Natal — Remote-First with On-Site Visits
eThekwini (Durban)
Umhlanga & North Coast
Pietermaritzburg
KwaMashu, Umlazi, Inanda
14. Eastern Cape — Gqeberha, East London, Mthatha
🌊 Eastern Cape — On-Site from Gqeberha (Head Office)
Nelson Mandela Bay (Gqeberha/PE)
Buffalo City (East London)
Sundays River Valley
Mdantsane, KwaZakhele
15. Free State, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West & Northern Cape
🌾 Free State (Bloemfontein, Welkom, Bethlehem)
🌳 Mpumalanga (Mbombela, Witbank, Secunda)
🥑 Limpopo (Polokwane, Tzaneen, Hoedspruit)
⛏️ North West (Mahikeng, Rustenburg, Potchefstroom)
💎 Northern Cape (Kimberley, Upington)
16. Why ASC vs Other SA COA Consultants
Feature
ASC Food Safety Consultants
Typical SA Competitor
SAATCA Listed Online TCP
✅ TC No. 065 — verifiable
Sometimes (e.g. FSM TCP No. 045)
SAATCA R638 Lead Implementer on staff
✅ 1 of only 3 in SA
Almost never
HPCSA + FoodBev SETA combined
✅
Rare
R699 small-business toolkit
✅ TK11 — 40+ docs
Almost none priced this low
Half-day gap audit at R2 500
✅ Fixed-fee, transparent
R5k–R10k+ “quote on request”
Dedicated spaza shop training course
✅ FS28 R879
Almost none have one
Gauteng on-site flagship office
✅ Randburg HQ
Many WC-only or Joburg-only
Three SA offices
✅ Randburg · Cape Town · Gqeberha
Usually 1
Two purpose-built domains
✅ ascfoodsafety.com (consulting) + ascfoodsafetytraining.com (training)
Usually 1
BBBEE Level 1
✅ 135% procurement
Lower
R638 PIC course price & depth
R1 650 / 17 hours
FSM R1 750 / 7-8 hrs · Entecom POA / 16-20 hrs
17. Related ASC Articles & Courses — Build Your Full Food Safety Stack
18. Trusted by SA Food Businesses Since 2014
The ASC Track Record — Nationwide
19. Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Certificate of Acceptability (COA)?
Why is a COA important?
Who needs a COA?
How do I get a COA?
How much does a COA gap audit cost in Gauteng?
Do I really need a consultant or can I do it myself?
How do I get a COA in Johannesburg?
Is there a course specifically for spaza shops and informal traders?
What is the TK11 Basic Food Safety Toolkit?
How do I get a COA in Cape Town?
How long is a COA valid?
Can a COA be transferred to a new owner?
What are the penalties for operating without a COA?
How do I verify ASC’s SAATCA listing?
What’s the difference between ASC Food Safety Consultants and ASC Food Safety Training?
20. Book Your Free 15-Min Consultation Today — From Anywhere in SA
Affordable COA Compliance — From R699 to a Full Service
Buy R699 TK11 Toolkit
What is a Certificate of Acceptability (COA)?
SAATCA TC No. 065HPCSA AccreditedFoodBev SETA 587/00337/1900BBBEE Level 1Gauteng On-Site
🌐
🏆
OFFICIALLY SAATCA-LISTED: ASC Food Safety Training is officially registered as a SAATCA online training course provider — TC No. 065. Mthokozisi Nkosi is one of only three SAATCA Registered R638:2018 Lead Implementers in South Africa.
💡 Key Things to Know About a COA
⚖️
🚪
🪪
💼
🏢
⚠️ Real Enforcement Examples — March 2025
📏 Rule of Thumb
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
💡 Where ASC’s Half-Day Gap Audit Fits
🚨 Never Pay Cash on Premises
OPTION 1 · GAP AUDIT
R2 500
Half-day on-site (4 hours) · written report within 48 hours · fixed-fee · same price nationwide
Best for: Existing food businesses unsure whether they’d pass an EHP inspection. New businesses wanting a benchmark before fitting out. Pairs perfectly with the R699 toolkit.
OPTION 2 · TOOLKIT
R699
Once-off · lifetime access · digital delivery within 24 hours
Best for: Small food businesses, spaza shops, home-based food operations, food trucks, takeaways, start-up food premises and informal traders that need a practical compliance starting point without a heavy cost. R699 is genuinely affordable for any SA business.
OPTION 3 · PIC TRAINING
R1 650
17 hours self-paced · SAATCA TC No. 065 + HPCSA + FoodBev SETA · QR-verified certificate · lifetime access
Best for: Owners and managers across all premise types — restaurants, takeaways, butcheries, bakeries, cafés, cloud kitchens. The legally-required PIC certificate.
OPTION 4 · SPAZA & INFORMAL
R879
Online accredited · self-paced · lifetime access · designed for the informal sector
Best for: Soweto, Alex, Tembisa, Diepsloot, Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain, KwaMashu, Umlazi, Mdantsane, Mamelodi, Atteridgeville, Mahikeng, Polokwane and Mbombela township spaza shops; food market traders; hawkers; informal caterers.
💡 Smart Combo for Small Businesses
1
2
3
4
5
6
JohannesburgGautengFlagship
SandtonGautengFlagship
PretoriaGautengFlagship
MidrandGautengFlagship
RandburgGautengHQ
CenturionGautengFlagship
EkurhuleniGautengFlagship
RoodepoortGautengFlagship
SowetoGautengFlagship
BoksburgGautengFlagship
BenoniGautengFlagship
Kempton ParkGautengFlagship
Cape TownWestern CapeOn-site
StellenboschWestern CapeOn-site
PaarlWestern CapeOn-site
GeorgeWestern CapeOn-site
KnysnaWestern CapeOn-site
HermanusWestern CapeOn-site
GqeberhaEastern CapeOn-site (HQ)
East LondonEastern CapeOn-site
DurbanKwaZulu-NatalRemote+
UmhlangaKwaZulu-NatalRemote+
PietermaritzburgKwaZulu-NatalRemote+
BloemfonteinFree StateRemote+
PolokwaneLimpopoRemote+
MbombelaMpumalangaRemote+
WitbankMpumalangaRemote+
MahikengNorth WestRemote+
RustenburgNorth WestRemote+
KimberleyNorthern CapeRemote+
Sectors: Restaurant chains, corporate catering, dark/cloud kitchens, deli & coffee chains, hotels
Sectors: Government catering, embassy catering, Hatfield/Menlyn/Brooklyn restaurants, university residences
Sectors: Airport catering, manufacturing (Isando, Alrode, Elandsfontein), abattoirs, food import/export
Sectors: Premium restaurants, corporate catering, hotel F&B, banking-precinct cafés
Sectors: Cold chain, food manufacturing, contract catering, food trucks at corporate parks
Sectors: Airport catering, import/export, large-scale manufacturing, abattoirs
Sectors: Spaza shops, hawkers, market traders, township takeaways, township butcheries
Sectors: Spaza shops, hawkers, township taverns, informal food markets
📞 Gauteng office: +27 10 500 4661 · Ferndale, Randburg · Mon–Fri 08:00–17:00 · info@ascfoodsafety.com
⚠️ Tshwane Active Enforcement — March 2025
Sectors: V&A restaurants, Sea Point/Camps Bay tourism, hotel F&B, dark kitchens
Sectors: Wine estate F&B, boutique hotels, farm-to-table restaurants
Sectors: Fresh/frozen seafood, aquaculture, abalone exports
Sectors: Tourism F&B, seafood restaurants, boutique hotels, oyster operations
Sectors: Spaza shops, township takeaways, market vendors
📞 Cape Town office: +27 21 300 4024 · Mon–Fri 08:00–17:00 · info@ascfoodsafety.com
Sectors: Indian Ocean tourism F&B, Umhlanga corporate catering, Berea/Glenwood restaurants
Sectors: Resort F&B, banqueting, holiday-home catering, beach restaurants
Sectors: Government catering, midlands B&Bs, dairy operations
Sectors: Spaza shops, township taverns, hawkers, market vendors
📞 KZN service: Remote-first via Randburg or Cape Town office · video gap audits + document pack + EHP liaison
Sectors: VW/Ford/Isuzu catering, Summerstrand restaurants, Walmer F&B
Sectors: Mercedes-Benz catering, Quigney restaurants, Beacon Bay deli
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BBBEELevel 1
Good Afternoon.
I have read that a new COA needs to be reissued, under regulations 638 of 2018, meaning if the business has had a COA prior to 2018, they now are required to apply in line with R638? Is this the case.
Secondly in North West the COA, are dated for validity for a year, i have read where you state that the COA does not expire, of course where no changes in the business.
Good day Kgomotso,
Yes you are correct. We recommend you contact your local authority to apply for a COA under the most recent regulation which at the moment is Regulations R638 of 2018. There is no expiry date on a COA but the following 4 conditions do apply where you need to contact the local authority again:
1. Change of ownership or person in charge.
2. If you make major changes that will greatly affect the scope of the business.
3. When a new Regulation comes into affect.
4. Change of address
ASC Consultants
Good afternoon can you advise in a Franchise arrangement id the Franchisee or the Franchisor responsible for obtaining the certificate. This applies to the Franchise opportunity being in a 3rd party environment eg a Hospital.
Many thanks
Theo Valentine
Hi Theo,
The Certificate of Acceptability will be issued in the name of the person in charge of the food premises. Which means the person ultimately responsible for the daily operations of the food business. The COA is issued per physical address.
ASC Consultants
As a sub contracted transporter (Road Freight). would we need to apply for a R638 certificate as well in order to transport foods/goods.
Thanks
Hi Wayne,
Yes, you will need to apply for a Certificate of Acceptability from your local authority.
ASC Consultants
Hi There Team
If I have a food trailer (used for markets and festivals) do I need a certificate for every municipality?
Thanks for all the help en tips. Will definitely be doing our training through you.
Kind regards
Armand
Hi Armand,
You will only need to apply for a Certificate of Acceptability from your local authority. We recommend you contact them to find out what is required.
ASC Consultants.
how long are these certificates valid for?
Hi Mark,
A Certificate of Acceptability does not expire, but you will need to notify the local authority if the person in charge as indicated on the certicate change, for example change of ownership. You will also need to notify the local authority if you make major renovations which changes the scope of your business.
ASC Consultants
Is there an online portal to apply for a COA?
Good day Sasha-Lee,
We recommend you contact the local authority where the business is located and ask them what the process for the COA application is and if they have an online portal available.
Kind regards,
ASC Consultants
Hi
If the businesses are closed due to being noncompliant and the owners are still running it, what are the steps to take?
Concerned citizen.
Good Zandile,
We recommend you contact the local authority / Department of Health regarding any concerns you may have. They should be able to assist you.
Kind regards,
ASC Consultants
Good day,
Hope you are well.
Where can I get an application to apply for an R638 certificate for our warehouse?
thank you
Good day Marito,
You can apply for a Certificate of Acceptability from your local authority (municipality). You are welcome to join one of the free webinars we present every Friday between 09:00 and 10:00 if you need additional information. Here is the link to book your seat: How to Start a Food Business in South Africa and Apply for a Certificate of Acceptability.
Kind regards,
ASC Consultants
Hi
Which local authority office or department does one visit to get the COA. We are at Woodmead where will one find this office.
Hi Khaya,
You have to visit the local authority where your business is situated. We recommend you visit the Municipality and ask them who will be able to assist you.
ASC Consultants
Hi, can you give an indication of what fees, if any would need to be paid for the inspection? I cannot seem to find any information on this.
Thank you!
Hi Kirsten,
Your best option is to contact your municipality regarding the fees. The fees can differ from one municipality to the other. You are welcome to join our free webinar today (29 July 2022 @ 09:00). Here is the link to book your seat: How to Start a Food Business in South Africa
Kind regards,
ASC Consultants
Please can you forward a copy of R638 as this is not available on the Department of Health’s website? Thank you
Hi Rita,
Here is a link to the R638 regulations: Regulations R638 PDF Download
Have a great day!
ASC Consultants