JOHANNESBURG, Feb 7 (Reuters) - The South African health regulator said on Monday it had registered Chinese COVID-19 vaccine Sinopharm, effectively clearing the way for its use in the country.

"This authorisation is based on acceptable safety, quality and efficacy data submitted by MC Pharma," South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) said in a statement.

MC Pharma is a Beijing-based company that manufactures Sinopharm vaccine, the regulator said. (Reporting by Promit Mukherjee; Editing by Wendell Roelf and Muralikumar Anantharaman)