The Department of Health's Environmental Health Directorate is the primary regulatory authority for food safety and cold chain compliance in South Africa. This government body is responsible for enforcing Regulation R638 governing the transport of foodstuffs, conducting inspections of refrigerated vehicles, issuing Certificates of Acceptability for food transport operations, and prosecuting non-compliance. All refrigerated food transport operators must comply with R638 requirements enforced by Environmental Health Practitioners. The department provides regulatory guidance, inspection protocols, compliance requirements, and enforcement of food safety standards throughout the cold chain.