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A phytosanitary certificate is a government-issued document certifying that your produce has been inspected and found free from regulated pests and diseases. South Africa's DALRRD requires one for virtually all fresh produce imports from Mozambique. Without it, your load will not cross the border.
Who issues phytosanitary certificates in Mozambique
The Instituto de Investigação Agrária de Moçambique (IIAM) in coordination with DAIA (Direcção de Agricultura e Ilhas Agrárias) is the issuing authority. Inspections are carried out at the production site or packing house — not at the border. This means you must schedule your inspection before the produce is loaded for transport.
What the certificate covers
The certificate declares: the botanical name of the produce, the country of origin, the declared quantity and weight, the destination country, and a statement that the produce has been inspected and found to conform with the phytosanitary requirements of the importing country. It is signed and stamped by an authorised IIAM inspector.
Common reasons for certificate rejection at the SA border
- Quantity mismatch between the certificate and the packing list
- Certificate older than 14 days (SA requires certificates to be current)
- Missing or incorrect HS code for the commodity
- Inspector stamp not matching the registered inspector list
- Pest or disease interception during the SA import inspection (even with a valid certificate)
How Shuri Agro manages the process
Our compliance team coordinates the inspection scheduling, reviews the certificate against the packing list and customs documentation before the load departs, and maintains a standing relationship with DALRRD at Komatipoort to resolve discrepancies quickly when they arise.
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