Integrity. Excellence. Accountability.
GS1 South Africa trading as the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) is an industry association representing over 9 000 member companies in the Consumer Goods, Retail and Services sectors, which is one of the largest employers in South Africa. At the core of CGCSA's purpose is our vision to become the leading Consumer Goods industry platform for advocacy, collaboration and best practice in South Africa and across Africa.
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Our Service Offering
Food Safety & Sustainability
FSSI is a leading platform for engagement and collaboration on food safety, quality, nutrition, health and wellness and related regulatory matters in Southern Africa
Consumer Goods Crime & Risk Initiative
The core mandate of CGCRI is to work together with members to mitigate against crime related risks within the retail and consumer goods industry and retail chain. This is achieved by offering a collaborative platform that addresses risks that include crime, civil disobedience, cyber-crime, bomb threats and terrorism.
Transformation, Training & Development
This platform supports transformation as a business imperative to contribute positively towards society. Positioning skills development at the core of employability.
Legal, Regulatory & Stakeholder Engagement
The role of the LRSE department is to shape the legal, regulatory and policy environment through advocacy and lobbying of key decision-makers to enable our members to trade better. We build and maintain strategic relationships with key and identified stakeholders to create an enabling environment for the viability and sustainability of the sector and our member organizations.
Global Standards & Solutions
GS1 is the leading supplier of barcodes in South Africa and the world. Our standards are the most widely used system of standards, and we offer a portfolio of services and tools to make adoption of our standards easier and more impactful for your business.
Articles
CGCSA Raises Concerns Over Tobacco Bill.
06 June 2025
The CGCSA has cautioned that South Africa's proposed tobacco bill ignores the country's illicit trade crisis. It argues the bill could worsen illegal tobacco sales, which already make up 60-70% of the market. The council warns this could deepen economic losses of at least R18 billion annually. While supporting public health, CGCSA calls for a locally tailored approach.
The Impact of the Illicit Trade on Legitimate Business.
CGCSA Calls For Urgent Expansion Of List Of Zero-rated Food Products To Ease Cost Burden On Poor Households
28 May 2025
Today the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) addressed the Parliamentary Select and Standing Committee on Finance where it called for National Treasury to urgently re-introduce the expansion of the list of zero-rated basic food items in the draft tax legislation expected to be shortly published for public comment.
In a country facing food insecurity, Neo Momodu, CGCSA Executive Legal, Regulatory & Stakeholder Engagement, submitted that expanding the list of zero-rated food products, poor households will be in a position to afford more healthy and nutritious food that would potentially otherwise have been beyond their means.
She says while CGCSA had welcomed the decision not to increase VAT, this had unfortunately led to the withdrawal of the Minister of Finance’s decision to expand the basket of VAT zero-rated food items to ease the burden of food costs on the poor and ...
CGCSA Welcomes Plans To Strengthen SARS To Fight Illicit Trading But Laments Decision Not To Expand List Of VAT-Exempted Food Products
23 May 2025
The Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) welcomes government plans to strengthen SARS in the fight against illicit trade, particularly in tobacco, alcohol, and counterfeit goods, which cost the country billions annually. CGCSA highlighted the issue during its recent security seminar and commended efforts by law enforcement, supported by CGCSA’s own initiatives, in cracking down on these illegal activities.
However, CGCSA expressed disappointment over the government’s decision not to expand the list of VAT-exempted food items, which could have provided relief to vulnerable consumers.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to supporting affordable food access and collaborating with stakeholders to combat illicit trading.
CGCSA Crime Risk Seminar: CNBC Africa interviews CGCSA CEO, Zinhle Tyikwe
CGCSA Welcomes Decision to Withdraw Planned VAT Increase With Caution
24 April 2025
Johannesburg, 24 April 2025 – The Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) has welcomed with caution, the decision by National Treasury to withdraw the planned 0.5 percentage point increase in VAT which was due to be effective from 1 May 2025 saying it will go a long way to ease the financial burden on particularly poor households.
CGCSA CEO Zinhle Tyikwe says while retailers had been working hard to exhaust best efforts to apply the VAT increase by ensuring systems compliance, shelf price labelling of each item and notification of consumers, to mention a few, the compliance readiness came at huge costs, which costs will now be further incurred to implement National Treasury’s reversal of the VAT increase.
“The back and forth over the VAT issue came at a cost to retailers who have had to incur financial expenses while adjusting their systems. We’re yet to quantify the cost by retailers but some have told us that it has been a significant expense both in terms of financial cost and hours spent to ensure they were compliant,” says Tyikwe.
CGF Annual Report: Powerful Impact of Consumer Goods Companies Collaborating to Tackle Industry Challenges
28 March 2025
The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) has released its 2024 Annual Report, Shaping the Future of Consumer Goods and Retail, showcasing the powerful impact of collaboration between manufacturers and retailers in addressing industry challenges.
The report highlights the achievements of CGF’s nine Coalitions of Action and five Acceleration Areas, driving faster industry transformation.
As the only CEO-led global organisation uniting consumer goods companies, CGF continues to shape a more sustainable and innovative future for the sector.
The Food Agency's efforts to combat hunger and reduce food waste in South Africa.
27 March 2025
FoodShare, a digital platform by FoodForward SA, connects beneficiary organisations with nearby food retail partners to collect surplus food, ensuring access to quality food even in remote areas.
The Food Agency in Cape Town addresses social issues through community research and activism, using food as an entry point to advocate for the right to food.
Project coordinator Nomonde Buthelezi highlights challenges such as translating academic work into vernacular languages and the urgency of hunger, which the organisation addresses by providing food and transport during workshops.
Community kitchens, supported by organisations like FoodForward SA, play a vital role in immediate hunger relief, with surplus food sourced from farmers, manufacturers, and retailers for redistribution.
CGCSA Annual Report 2025/2026
26 March 2025
It gives me pleasure to present the GS1 South Africa, trading as the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) annual report in which we provide an overview of activities and initiatives carried out in the past financial year in fulfilment of our mandate, helping members trade better.
These activities are outlined by the GS1 SA divisions of Consumer Goods Crime Risk Initiative, Food Safety & Sustainability Initiative, Global Standards & Solutions, Legal, Regulatory & Stakeholder Engagement and Transformation, Training & Development.
In my foreword in the last annual report, I mentioned concerns about a number of challenges our members were facing, among these energy security and poor logistics.
Pragmatism Needed in Tax Policies to Combat Illicit Trade
05 March 2025
The Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) highlights the risks of increasing so-called "sin taxes" on tobacco and liquor products.
CEO Zinhle Tyikwe warns that higher taxes could unintentionally fuel the illicit market, which already poses a significant challenge to the South African economy.
The article discusses the broader impact of illicit trade beyond alcohol and tobacco, affecting pharmaceuticals, food, and clothing. It emphasises the need for balanced policy decisions to protect businesses, jobs, and government revenue.
CGCSA December newsletter
20 December 2024
It is a pleasure to share with you the last newsletter for the year 2024, which has updates of developments, projects and initiatives by the CGCSA, which are all guided by our mandate of enabling members to trade better.
The CGCSA Board approved our new strategy that aims to champion innovation and growth for the sector, while contributing meaningfully to the country’s economic reconstruction strategy and prioritises industry needs
CGCSA launches illicit trading awareness campaign
11 November 2024
South Africa is facing an increasingly worrisome crisis of the production, sale and consumption of illicit and counterfeit food products which have regrettably caused illness and also resulted in fatalities, including of children.
In response, the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) has today launched a national illicit awareness campaign using the tag line, “Checka daai ding, Reka Makoya!”...
Setting the Record Straight on Barcodes - What do the first 3 digits mean?
07 November 2024
Recently, some messages have been circulating, claiming that any product without a barcode starting with "600" is fake or illegal. This is completely false and can confuse shoppers. Here’s the truth:
Products made or packaged in South Africa have barcodes starting with "600," thanks to GS1 South Africa. However, products from other countries will have different barcode numbers. Just because a barcode doesn’t start with "600" doesn’t mean the product is fake or illegal.
Open Letter: Sugar Value Chain Partners Calls for a Moratorium on Sugar Tax to Enable Economic Growth & Sustainability through Cohesive Policies
28 October 2024
Today we are united in calling on the Minister of Finance, Mr Enoch Godongwana to honour the commitment made publicly, in his 2023 budget announcing that consultations would be initiated with affected and interested parties as National Treasury considers adjustments to the Health Promotion Levy (HPL), including the proposed lowering of the 4g threshold...
CGCSA August newsletter
South Africa’s New Government Should Demonstrate Purposeful Leadership And Boldness To Grow The Economy
30 June 2024
The Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) says the announcement of a new cabinet by President Cyril Ramaphosa marks the start of a new, uncharted era for South Africa which at 30 years of democracy is at a crossroads, confronted by structural economic and social challenges, among them a low growth cycle, infrastructural inefficiencies, unreliable energy supplies, high unemployment, inequality and poverty. The new government...
Statement By The Consumer Goods Council Of South Africa On The Just Ended Elections
05 June 2024
The Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) welcomes the outcome of the recent general, provincial and regional elections as an expression of the democratic will of the people of South Africa. That the elections were held in a peaceful environment is testament to our maturing democracy which respects freedom of expression, choice and association. Given that
Consumer Goods Council Of South Africa Successfully Reviews And Sets Aside The Decision To Seize Meat Analogue Products
10 April 2024
The Johannesburg High Court has reviewed and set aside the decision to seize meat analogue products from retail outlets. The Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) was forced to urgently seek an interdict to stop the assignee the Food Safety Agency (FSA) from seizing meat analogue products from the shelves of retailers around the country, which it successfully did pending the outcome of the review of the decision.
CGCSA Annual Report 2023/2024
09 April 2024
We are ecstatic to share our 2023/2024 Annual Report, which showcases the highlights of the work that the CGCSA does and is a testament to our shared journey and the progress we have achieved for the period under review. The report for this year emphasizes our steadfast dedication to help our members trade better by spearheading digital transformation, promoting sustainable business solutions in both our sector and the communities that our members serve.
CGCSA Welcomes Regulations To Ease Recruitment Of Foreign Labour
05 April 2024
The Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) has welcomed planned new work visa rules to simplify the recruitment of foreign skills saying their effective implementation will support efforts to attract investment. Zinhle Tyikwe, CEO of CGCSA said replacing the critical list with a points system to recruit expatriates will hopefully ease the administrative and bureaucratic burden that multinational companies with businesses in South Africa have been facing to hire skilled staff.
GS1 South Africa Showcases The Verified By GS1 Registry Linked To An App For Enhanced Product Authentication In South Africa
CGCSA-Producer Responsibility Organisation (Pro) Registered To Coordinate Efforts By Members To Reduce The Impact Of Waste On The Environment
12 December 2023
GS1 South Africa t/a Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) has been registered as a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) which will enable it to coordinate efforts by its manufacturing and retailer members to reduce the impact of waste on the environment and also comply with applicable Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation.The PRO will operate.
CGCSA November Newsletter
Introducing Verified by GS1: Elevating Trust in Product Information for Retailers, Spaza Shops and Regulators
16 November 2023
Johannesburg, 16 November 2023 – In a first for South Africa, a new service, Verified by GS1, has been launched that will empower retailers, informal spaza shops and regulators with a reliable and verifiable source of product, company and location data. In a world driven by digital commerce, consumers, business partners, and government entities alike stand to benefit significantly from this innovative solution.
Tribute to Raymond Ackerman, founder of Pick n Pay
7 September 2023
In life, there are people who choose to take the road less travelled to build and leave a legacy that endures beyond their own generation. This aptly describes the legacy of Raymond Ackerman, the founder of retail giant Pick ‘n Pay, who sadly passed away on 7 September 2023 aged 92.
CGCSA August newsletter
CGCSA calls for swift end to the taxi strike in Western Cape
8 August 2023
The Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) has expressed concern about the impact of the taxi strike in the Western Cape on the retail sector and their customers and has urged SANTACO and the Western Cape government to find an amicable way to resolve the impasse. Zinhle Tyikwe, CGCSA CEO says while it is too early to provide the financial impact of the strike to its members, the lack of reliable transport and accompanying violence that has characterised the strike is unfortunate. Equally worrying has been reports of destruction of infrastructure and looting which CGCSA believes requires decisive action by law enforcement to prevent it escalating further.
Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) wins permanent inderdict against seizure of meat analogue meat products by the department of agriculture
23 July 2023
The Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) has successfully interdicted the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (the Department) and its assignee the Food Safety Agency (FSA) from seizing any meat analogue products presented for sale in South Africa, pending the outcome of the CGCSA’s application to review the decision to seize these products.
CGCSA co-chair Gareth Ackerman calls for urgent action to respond to climate change through sustainability initiatives
26 April 2023
Johannesburg, 26 April 2023 – The co-chair of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) Gareth Ackerman today called for urgent action to come up with sustainable interventions in response to the impact of climate change, saying there is something fundamentally and morally wrong in the way the fragile eco-system and the environment is being managed. Speaking at the launch of the CGCSA’s Sustainability and Climate Change Dialogue Series, Ackerman described the..