Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act No. 119 of 1990)Regulations2026 RegulationsRegulations relating to the Classification, Packing and Marking of Mayonnaise, Salad Cream, Salad Dressing and Salad Oil Dressing intended for Sale in the Republic of South Africa: Effective 24 April 2027Part IV : Marking Requirements16. Restricted particulars on containers and outer containers |
Class designation
(1)
| (a) | No class designation other than the applicable class designation shall be marked on a container or outer container: Provided that the names of other classes of Mayonnaise, Salad Cream, Salad Dressing and Salad Oil Dressing from the same manufacturer, indicated for the sole purpose of promotion and/or comparative claims shall be allowed on the front panel (comparative claims only) side panel or back panel of a container and promotions shall be accompanied by wording such as but not limited to for example “also try these products in our range”. (b) No word or expression which so nearly resembles the class designation of a product that it could be misleading with regard to the composition shall be marked on the container or outer container. |
Depictions and illustrations
(2)
| (a) | In the case of transparent containers depictions/illustrations of the intended use (e.g. salad) shall be allowed without the necessity of indicating the actual product on the container. (b) Where the depictions/illustrations on the container represent the flavour of the product it shall be construed in such a manner not to be confused with the intended use of the products (i.e. salads). |
| (b) | Where the depictions/illustrations on the container represent the flavour of the product it shall be construed in such a manner not to be confused with the intended use of the products (i.e. salads). |
Misleading words, marks, depictions, etc.
(3)
| (a) | No word, mark, depiction, illustration, or any other method of expression that constitutes a misrepresentation, or directly or by implication creates or may create a misleading impression regarding the quality, nature, class, origin or composition of a Mayonnaise, Salad Cream, Salad Dressing and Salad Oil Dressing shall be marked on a container or outer container containing such product. |
| (b) | Products not intended to be used with and on salads and those not intended to be used in the place of Mayonnaise, Salad Cream, Salad Dressing and Salad Oil Dressing shall not be labelled with words such as “salad”, “mayonnaise”, “dressing” or by words implying these words such as “mayo” and “naise”, but be presented as totally different products such as “sauce”, “dip”, “condiment”, etc. |
| (c) | The words “Mayo” and “Reduced Oil Mayo” may be used on the containers of Mayonnaise and Reduced Oil Mayonnaise respectively: Provided that the full class designations also appear on the containers. |
Claims
| (4) | No claim regarding the absence of any substance that does not normally occur in Mayonnaise, Salad Cream, Salad Dressing and Salad Oil Dressing shall be marked on the container or outer container thereof, except in cases where it is allowed for in the regulations published under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act No. 54 of 1972). |
| (5) | Words such as "reduced", "less than", "fewer", "light" and "lite", or words having a similar meaning which compares the total fat or energy value, shall only be made on the containers containing the classes Reduced Oil Mayonnaise, Reduced Oil Salad Cream and Reduced Oil Salad Dressing, unless the following conditions are complied with: |
| (a) | The words such as "reduced", "less than", "fewer", "light" and "lite", or words having a similar meaning, shall be indicated additionally and separately from the prescribed class designations Reduced Oil Mayonnaise, Reduced Oil Salad Cream and Reduced Oil Salad Dressing. |
| (b) | Every container of Reduced Oil Mayonnaise and Reduced Oil Salad Cream (excluding Reduced Oil salad Dressing) shall be marked with a statement of the amount of difference in the total fat or energy value expressed as a percentage compared with a mayonnaise and salad cream of the same brand, trade name or manufacturer, as the case may be: Provided that the comparison shall be based on a relative difference of at least 25% in the fat or energy value content of an equivalent mass or volume. |
| (c) | Each container shall be marked with the prescribed nutritional information declaration required in terms of the regulations published under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfects Act, 1972 (Act No. 54 of 1972). |
| (6) | No claim which compares the saturated fat, cholesterol, sugars, sodium or salt value of the Mayonnaise, Salad Cream, Salad Dressing and Salad Oil Dressing products by using words such as "reduced", "less than", "fewer", "light" and "lite", or words having a similar meaning, shall be made on the container containing these classes of products unless the following conditions are complied with: |
| (a) | The product shall be compared with a different version of the specific Mayonnaise, Salad Cream, Salad Dressing and Salad Oil Dressing variants of the |
| (b) | The product being compared shall be clearly marked on every container with the following information: |
(i) A statement of the amount of difference in the relevant nutrient content, expressed as a percentage.
(ii) The identity of the product(s) to which it is being compared in close proximity to or as part of the comparative claim.
| (c) | The comparison shall be based on a relative difference of at least 25% in the nutrient content of an equivalent mass or volume: Provided that the necessary proof (e.g. analysis report, etc.) shall be provided by the manufacturer or packer on request of the inspector. |
| (d) | Each container shall be marked with the prescribed nutritional information declaration required in terms of the regulations published under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfects Act, 1972 (Act No. 54 of 1972). |
Notice boards and advertisements
| (7) | The provisions of this regulation shall also apply to— |
| (a) | particulars that are marked on a notice board displayed at or in the immediate vicinity of Mayonnaise, Salad Cream, Salad Dressing and Salad Oil Dressing that are kept or displayed for sale; and |
| (b) | all advertisements for Mayonnaise, Salad Cream, Salad Dressing and Salad Oil Dressing. |