SAHPRA

South Africa - SAHPRA

GuidanceLast updated · 2023Verified · 2026-10-17

Medicines and Related Substances Act + SAHPRA medical device guidance

Authority

South African Health Products Regulatory Authority

Enforced

2017 (licensing); cyber guidance 2022

Legal framework

Medicines Act + SAHPRA MD Regulations + POPIA

FDA package reuse

~80%

Editorial estimate · how →

Scope

All medical devices and IVDs requiring establishment licensing. Cybersecurity addressed via general safety and POPIA data-protection overlay.

Pre-market

Risk-based registration dossier; CE / FDA approvals accepted as supporting evidence.

Post-market

Vigilance reporting to SAHPRA; POPIA breach notifications to the Information Regulator.

SBOM

Recommended

Not mandated; encouraged for SaMD aligned to FDA expectations.

Vulnerability disclosure

Encouraged via CSIRT.gov.za.

Penalty

Licence suspension; POPIA fines up to R10M; criminal liability.

Unique requirements

01South African Establishment Licence
02Local Authorised Representative
03POPIA compliance for any patient-data processing

Highlights

Reference jurisdiction route for FDA / CE
POPIA data-protection overlay
Phased medical device licensing rollout

Aligns with

IMDRF N60 ISO 13485 FDA 2023 Guidance

Timeline

2017
Medical device licensing introduced
Jul 2021
POPIA full enforcement
2022
SAHPRA cybersecurity guidance circulated

Key documents

SAHPRA Medical Devices

https://www.sahpra.org.za/medical-devices/

POPIA

https://popia.co.za/

How to submit in South Africa

Playbook reviewed · 2026-07-16

Submission route

SAHPRA licence under the Medicines and Related Substances Act

SAHPRA's medical device framework is maturing; cybersecurity expectations track IMDRF and are typically satisfied by an FDA or CE package.

Authority portal

Step-by-step

Step 01
Appoint local representation
Most jurisdictions require a locally-established entity to hold the registration or act as authorised representative before submission.
Step 02
Reuse FDA or CE package as baseline
Adapt the cybersecurity subsection you already prepared for FDA or CE; regulators here typically accept the structure and ask for local labeling additions.
Step 03
Translate and localise
Local-language technical summary and labeling are usually mandatory; certified translation is safest.
Step 04
Submit + track queries
Respond to clarification rounds promptly; each unanswered question can add 30-90 days to the clock.

Evidence checklist

Item	Level	FDA equivalent	Notes
Cybersecurity documentation (baseline FDA or CE)	Required	SPDF
Local authorised representative agreement	Required	—
Local-language labeling and IFU	Required	—
SBOM	Recommended	—	Not mandatory but reduces clarification rounds.

Common SAHPRA rejections

Establishment licence not in place for local rep

Common

Fix · Local rep must hold a SAHPRA establishment licence before filing.

Typical timeline

End-to-end window: 9-18 months

Phase 01

Local rep + dossier prep

2-4 months

Phase 02

Regulatory review

9-18 months

Phase 03

Approval + market entry

1-3 months

Related markets

United Kingdom

~80% FDA reuse

Taiwan

~80% FDA reuse

Malaysia

~80% FDA reuse

Philippines

~80% FDA reuse

Frequently asked about South Africa

Is SBOM required for medical devices in South Africa?

Recommended. Not mandated; encouraged for SaMD aligned to FDA expectations.

What does SAHPRA require for pre-market cybersecurity?

Risk-based registration dossier; CE / FDA approvals accepted as supporting evidence.

What are the post-market cybersecurity obligations under SAHPRA?

Vigilance reporting to SAHPRA; POPIA breach notifications to the Information Regulator.

What is the penalty for non-compliance with SAHPRA cybersecurity rules?

Licence suspension; POPIA fines up to R10M; criminal liability.

How much of my FDA cybersecurity package is reusable in South Africa?

Roughly 80% - an editorial estimate based on overlapping evidence requirements (threat model, SBOM, security risk assessment, pen-test report).