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Explore the social, economic, and political relevance of SABS regulations in commerce, focusing on legislative impact, benefits, and regulatory activities. Learn about alliances, standards division initiatives, and human resource development programs.
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THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC & POLITICAL RELEVANCE OF SABS Presentation by Dr. Randall Carolissen Trade and Industry Portfolio Committee RSA Parliament 28 May 2002
Enabling Legislation • Standards Act(Act 29 of 1993) • Trade Metrology Act(Act77 of 1973) • Road Traffic Act(Act 93 of 1996) • Foodstuffs, disinfectants and cosmetics Act • OHS Act • Mines & Minerals Act
Business Context • Globalization (WTO TBT, SPS, ISO,OIML, CODEX – HACCP) • People Development • Presidential Imperatives • Public Expectations (Consumer Protection) • Internet Revolution • Financial Robustness • Sustainability
LEGISLATION REGULATOR CONFORMITY STANDARDS (SURVEILLANCE, ASSESSMENT SANCTIONS (TECHNICAL AUDIT, APPROVALS, (TEST, INSPECT, VERIFY, (FAILURE) REQUIREMENTS) SANCTIONS) CERTIFY WTO-TBT Regulatory Best Practice Model This Technical Regulation best practice encompasses five essential building blocks Technical Regulations Product Characteristic Administrative Procedure
COUNCIL SABS CEO NON-COMMERCIAL CORPORATE COMMERCIAL HOLDINGS [PTY] LTD JOINT VENTURES STANDARDS DESIGN INSTITUTE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT REGULATORY
Benefits - Effective Regulatory Framework • Reduced disputation and transaction costs • Consumer protection • Level playing fields for commercial transactions • Effective stock control and Control of fraud • Full benefit obtained for commodity exports and control over local content requirements • Effective collection of government excise and taxes
Regulatory Appointments of SABS • ICASA – Telecommunications • SITA – Information Security • NGB – Gambling • Certification of Marine exports to EU – RSA & Namibia • Automotive –Department of Transport for railway safety standards
Specific Regulatory Activities • Homologation and type approval • Surveillance of requirements of (72) compulsory specifications • Consignment inspections • Market surveillance • Verification • Calibration of verification Standards • Confidential forensic investigations • Customs and excise activities • Training
Scope of activities1 April - 30 November 2001 • Audits /Inspections = 20 812 • Homologation = 44 (cars, trucks and busses) • Type approval • instruments = 11 • Modifications to approved instruments = 37 • Sanctions • Court cases = 122 • Warnings = 1594 • Embargoes = 333
Alliances (1) • Continue & develop it’s membership of International Standards Organizations • ISO • IEC • ETSI • Take part in international standardization forums: • CAC • UN ECE WP’s • CEN • CENELEC • COPANT • JASIC • PASC
Alliances (2) • Increase involvement & take leadership in the SADCSTAN mechanisms to further the harmonization of standards & technical regulations within SADC and operate the SADCSTAN secretariat • Provide assistance to National Standards Bodies in Africa, and in particular SADC member countries • Ensure that SADC input is sought for national standards projects where a possibility of harmonization within SADC has been identified
Activities • Ongoing attention to the process time for the development of standards and maintaining them at better than international norms • Maintaining a database of SADC technical regulations • Refine the process for developing fast-track type standards that are limited consensus documents used by industry • Increased focus & participation in the development of standards within SADC • Ongoing transformation of the standards legacy into electronic format • Enhance the SABS Website as a tool for standards development • Developing training courses for use internally, nationally & regionally
Focus Areas • SMME’s Development – see next slide • Human Resource Development – to be elaborated on • HIV-Aids –Development of Code of practice for corporate and other organizations • SABS, ABSA Foundation and Daimler Chrysler rural development project to build capacity in math's, science and technology launched in the Eastern Cape on 2 Nov. 2001 and Feb 2002 Northern Province
SMME Development • Samples tested = 153 • Capability reports = 15 • Training Programmes • 395 Entrepreneurs trained in: • Missing Link Training Programme • South African Excellence Model • ISO 9000 • DTI-Tisa Development contract for assessment of export readiness of SMEs • Enterprises selected & audited = 11 • Companies approved for technical assistance support = 10
Policy Formulation and Legislation Review • Acceptance of OIML recommendations as National Standards • Assist DTI with the promulgation of • New Standards Act • Technical Regulations Act • Legal Metrology and Consumer Protection Act
Target Groups • SABS employees • Industry • Service sector • SADC • Government institutions • SMME’s • Consultants
Products/Courses Improved competitiveness • SABS ISO 9001 – Quality management systems • SABS ISO 14000 – Environmental management systems • OHSAS 18000 – Occupational health and safety management systems • HACCP – Food industry • SABS ISO 17799 – Information security management • Management Development
SABS- Eurotype Internship (1) East London • Arrangements with Border Technicon, PE Technicon & East Cape Technicon to accommodate 6 students annually to complete 2nd phase of mandatory practical training. • Students are rotated though all operational areas such vehicle emission certification for export & the noise level test section & fuel testing & engine and catalytic converter testing • Tasks performed: • Vehicle preparation • Equipment calibration • Process documentation • Software development
SABS- Eurotype Internship (2) • Pretoria • Training of students from Pretoria Technicon • Rotated through Powertrain & Body/Chassis & other automotive related tests eg. Towbars, seatbelts. • Gains experience in: • Test methods • Equipment used for various tests • Dynamometer refurbishment project (in some cases)
International Liaison • UN ECE Working Party 29 partner • Codex Alimentarius membership • South African representative at Organisation Internationale Metrologie Legale (OIML) • Information enquiry point for WTO/TBT • SADCMEL (Legal Metrology cooperation) • NEPAD program • RSA WTO-TBT point of enquiry • Founder member of ISO – the only developing nation
Projects (1) • National HIV/AIDS Management Standard • The effect of EMF of cell phones on human and animal tissues and systems • Future fuel octane grading system for South Africa • Treatment of rural houses with flame retardation insecticide • Standard for a reed bed water purification system • Code of practice for the use of micro organisms in the cleanup of oil spills • Certification Standard for identification of country of origin of goods • Standard for indoor and outdoor Air Quality Measurement
Projects (2) • Code of Practice for commercial operators for the observation of marine mammals and other marine life • Standard for sisal fibers used in the automotive industry • Corrosion of types of wire fence under different climatic conditions
Summary • Underpin social imperatives • Lower Technical Barriers to Trade • Improve on International competitiveness • Improve investors confidence through Regulatory reform • Protect interests of developing nations at international policy formulation forums