Trade and industry minister Mandisi Mpahlwa will Friday symbolically open the SA National Accreditation System (SANAS) and the National Metrology Institute of SA (NMISA). The public entities will be responsible for technical accreditation and the metrology part of what his department calls a "South African Technical Infrastructure".
These two "critical pillars of the technical infrastructure" were respectively established by the Accreditation for Conformity Assessment, Calibration and Good Laboratory Practice Act of 2006 and the Measurement Units and Measurement Standards Act of the same year.
The Acts are also binding on the local ICT industry.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) says local enterprises "are faced with the challenges of competing in the global market when producing and exporting goods and services around the world. Of crucial importance is a national system of technical infrastructure for standards setting, accreditation and metrology that can support the competitiveness of locally produced goods and services and that can facilitate access to markets and regional integration."
The department goes on to say that these "public entities are of critical importance because they facilitate improving the quality of South African goods and services, extending our ability to co-manufacture with partners abroad, providing proof that South African produce meets health and safety requirement of trading partners, supporting our ability to protect the South African consumer and allowing for the transfer of technology from international partners."
Competitive standards
Metrology is the foundation for any scientific measurement system. NMISA previously functioned as the National Metrology Laboratory, which was a centre within the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. The institute will support the country's enterprises competing in a globalised economy.
NMISA is responsible for:
* Keeping and maintaining all national measurements standards.
* Arranging certifying reference materials and arranging for a comparison of the related procedures and primary methods and ensure their correction, if necessary.
* Ensure compliance with and validation in terms of the stipulations of the International Committee of Weights and Measures (CIPM) Mutual Recognition Arrangement.
* Coordinate and manage international, regional and bilateral interaction with other national metrology institutes and bodies affiliated to the CIPM.
Crucial role
By law, the broad mandate of SANAS is "to provide accreditation services where conformity assessment service providers that offer testing and certification services in both the public and private sector are formally recognised for their competence."
Its responsibilities include:
* Providing for an independent process and assessment methodology where the competence to perform a specific service of conformity assessment is determined.
* Providing confidence in the competence and reliability of testing, inspection, and certification service providers.
* Allowing for the recognition and use of competent public sector bodies to operate in the regulatory domain, freeing up government resources for other priority areas.
SANAS is recognised as the sole body in SA responsible for accreditation in respect of conformity assessment, calibration, good laboratory practice (GLP), testing and verification laboratories; certification bodies; inspection bodies; and the broad-based black economic empowerment rating agencies.
"An internationally recognised national accreditation system is a crucial element for a well-functioning technical infrastructure that is aligned with international best practice. SANAS plays a pivotal role in ensuring SA's accreditation system continues to support the needs of our enterprises competing in a fast-paced global economy," the DTI adds. "It facilitates international trade and enhances SA's economic performance by promoting the competence and equivalence of accredited bodies and of compliant GLP facilities.
"SANAS represents SA in matters related to accreditation of conformity assessment and related activities and in the broader area of international acceptance of such."
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