The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) remained committed to strengthening the regulation of health products and aligning South Africa’s regulatory framework with international best practices.

Following the initial stakeholder engagement on the mandatory Import Authorisation System for health products, SAHPRA acknowledged the valuable feedback and concerns raised by industry stakeholders. As part of its ongoing commitment to transparent engagement, SAHPRA hosted a second webinar to provide further updates and clarify the implementation of the Import Authorisation System.

SAHPRA commenced a pilot phase involving a selected group of importers on 1 September 2026. The pilot supported the refinement of the system and facilitated a smooth transition towards broader implementation.