Information Booklet - nrcs.org.za · health, structural stability and uniform interpretation of the NBR & BS Act and Regulations. THE NRCS STRATEGIC GOALS ARE AS FOLLOWS: • To develop,

Information Booklet

NRCS INFORMATION BOOKLET

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NRCS Information Booklet

BACKGROUND TO THE NRCS

The National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) was established on 1 September 2008, in accordance with the provisions of the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications Act, (Act No 5 of 2008) NRCS Act. It emerged as an independent organisation from the original Regulatory Division of the South African Bureau of Standards and falls within the area of responsibility of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti).

The NRCS’ mandate includes promoting public health and safety, environmental protection and ensuring fair trade. This mandate is achieved through the development and administration of technical regulations and compulsory specifications as well as through market surveillance to ensure compliance with the requirements of the compulsory specifications and technical regulations. NRCS stakeholders include the South African government, industry and SAcitizens.

NRCS VISION

The vision of NRCS is to collaborate with our strategic partners to contribute to a safe, competitive and prosperous South Africa.

NRCS MISSION

The mission of NRCS is protecting the interests of South Africans by developing and ensuring compliance with compulsory specifications and technical regulations.

NRCS Value Chain


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LEGISLATIVE MANDATES

The legislative mandate of NRCS is derived from the following legislations:

• The National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications Act, ( Act No 5 of 2008)

• The Trade Metrology Act, ( Act No 77 of 1973)

• The National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, ( Act No 103 of 1977)

THE ROLE OF NRCS

The NRCS’ role as a regulator is to ensure that businesses produce, import or sell products or services that are not harmful to consumers or the environment or that fall short of the declared quantity of measurement.

The NRCS is also tasked to provide a regulatory function for the building industry to ensure building safety, health, structural stability and uniform interpretation of the NBR & BS Act and Regulations.

THE NRCS STRATEGIC GOALS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

• To develop, maintain and administer compulsory specifications and technical regulations

• To maximise compliance with all specifications and technical regulations

• To inform and educate our stakeholders about the NRCS

• To ensure an optimally capacitated institution

REGULATED PRODUCTS AND INDUSTRIES

• Automotive Products

• Built Environment

• Chemical Products, Mechanical Devices and Materials

• Electrical Products and Appliances

• Frozen Fish, Canned Fishery, Canned Meat and Live Abalone

• Legal Metrology

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THE NEED FOR REGULATION

The role of NRCS is to preserve the safety of South Africans consumers against potentially hazardous non-

compliant goods and ensure that they receive fair value for money. The organisation is determined to enhance

its services to ensure compliance at all levels. It continues to identify gaps in regulation, where necessary, to

ensure consumer protection in an ever changing global market.

The NRCS’s specifications and technical regulations are meant to protect South African consumers from

unscrupulous businesses that either trade in unsafe products or that don’t subscribe to the principle of fair trade,

across markets. The need for regulation emanates from the fact that consumers in the whole world are driven by

price rather than safety as they go about in their daily transactions. This places a huge burden on the NRCS to

ensure that the market is ridded of harmful products while at the same time protecting the interests of growing

South African business.

Technical regulations prescribe the basic requirements of goods traded in our markets. These requirements

need to be competently measured and such measurements must be compatible with country’s other trading

partners in order to facilitate trade. Very importantly, consumers need to be confident that the goods they

purchase are accurately measured, safe for use and of appropriate quality for their needs.

The environment within which South Africa trades and NRCS operates has been characterised by rapid and

fundamental change. The global manufacturing base continues on the trend of migration from the West to the

East, dramatically changing the traditional sources of products. This has contributed to the increased scale of

regulatory challenges facing the NRCS.

In response to these challenges, the NRCS has had to reconfigure the way it conducts business by moving

towards deploying more of its people at the ports of entry so that it can intercept non-compliant products before

they enter the local market, and forming partnerships with organisations such as the South African Revenue

Services (SARS) and the South African Police Services (SAPS).

This with the view to achieve its mandate of protecting health, safety and the environment while ensuring fair

trade.


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LOA APPLICATION PROCESS FLOW

Complete and submit LOAapplication form (AF) to NRCS

AF accepted

Close the application and issue rejection

letter

Return to client for redo YESNO

Register application and send for evaluation by inspector

Application is evaluated for compliance

Application compliesNO

YES

Recommend approval

Send non-compliance (NC) report to client

NCcleared?YES

NO

Approval granted?

YES

Issue LOA

Register on database

NO

NRCS receives and checks the application from

Automotive Business Unit

The Automotive is a market surveillance that ensures that vehicles and vehicle components that fall within the domain of the NRCS Act and the National Road Traffic Act (Act No 93 of 1996) comply with all compulsory requirements before they are offered for sale in South Africa.


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Automotive Products

VC NRName of product/ service

Sample IndustryPurpose for regulating

Critical Safety Area

VC 8022 (Passenger carrying vehicles/cars) (LOA and Homologation certificate)

Manufacturers Importers and Builders of Motor Vehicles

Promote safety of occupants in the vehicle, other road users and environmental protection

Braking systems (to ensure stopping distances, emer-gency braking, park brake, ABS for trailers), seats and their anchorages

(To ensure that seats are properly secured to the vehicle), safety belts (Keep vehicle occupants in their seating positions at all times), tyres, safety glass and windscreens (protect occupants from being thrown out through the windows and ensure that the windscreens do not severely cut the occupants during collisions)

Rear-view mirrors (for the driver to be able to see objects behind and on the sides of the vehicle).

VC 8024 (Light goods carrying/Pick-ups/bakkies) Gross mass not exceed 3500 kg (LOA and Homologation certificate)

VC 8023 (Heavy passenger vehicles/busses, minibuses) (LOA and Homologation certificate)

VC 8025 (Medium to heavy Trucks - Gross mass exceeds 3500 kg) (LOA and Homologation certificate)

VC 8026 (Caravans and Light Trailers) (LOA and Homologation certificate)

Manufacturers Importers and Builders of Motor Vehicles

Promote safety of vehicle occupants, other road users and environmental protection

Lights and their positioning (Illumination of the road ahead, give signals to other road users and ensure not to cause severe glare to oncoming traffic), engine emissions (ensure reduced pollution), electro magnetic interference (ensure compliance with Electronic Communications Act).

VC 8027 (Heavy trailers/interlinks) (LOA and Homologation certificate)

VC 8057 Agricultural Tractors (LOA and Homologation certificate)

VC 9098 (Motorcycles, Motor Tricycles and Quadrocycles) (LOA and Homologation certificate)

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Automotive Products




VC 8013 Hydraulic Brake and Clutch Fluid (Brake Fluid)

Automotive components manufacturers and importers

Ensure original braking performance of the vehicle is maintained

Operational temperature, viscosity, packaging

VC 8053 Replacement Brake Lining Assemblies for Road Vehicles (Brake pads and shoes)

Ensure original braking performance of the vehicle is maintained

Transmission of required braking force

VC 8016 Safety Helmets for Motor Cyclists (LOA and Homologation certificate)

Automotive accessories/components manufacturers and importers

Reduce the risk of head injury during collision

Protective padding, Riders vision, Head coverage and secure

VC 8033 Child Restraints for use in Motor Vehicles (Child seats/baby seats) (LOA and Homologation certificate)

Promote safety of children by restraining them on their seats

Flammability, ability to be secured on the vehicle while retraining the child in her seating position

VC 8048 Replacement Incandescent Lamps for Motor Vehicles (Globes) (LOA Required)


Ensure sufficient illumination of the road and discourage severe glare to encroaching traffic

Ability to illuminate the road without causing severe glare to other road users and to give signal to other road users of the driver’s intention

VC 8049 Replacement Headlights for Motor Vehicles (Dipped and Main beams) (LOA Required)

VC 8050 Replacement Secondary Lights for Motor Vehicles (Indicators, Stoplights, Rear position) (LOA Required)


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Automotive Products




VC 8051 Replacement Safety Glass for use in Road Vehicles (LOA Required)


Ensure occupants are kept safe in the vehicle

Ability to give proper drivers vision, reduce injuries caused by windscreen breakage (it should be laminated)

VC 8059 Pneumatic Tyres for Commercial Vehicles and their Trailers (Homologation letter)

Promote safety on the vehicle’s only contact with the surface

Speed handling, load carrying and dimensions

VC 8056 Pneumatic Tyres for Passenger Cars and Trailers (Homologation letter)

VC 8080 Elastomeric Cups and Seals (Rubber seals) (LOA Required)


Ensure original braking performance is maintained

Material, sealing ability to reduce the risk of brake fluid leakages on disc callipers and brake master cylinders

VC 8065 Tow bars and Balls (LOA required)

Promote safety on towing of vehicles

Fitment, and capacity in terms of towing strength

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frequently asked questions and answers

Q. What is the process to follow if I want to embark on a business of selling motor vehicles in South

Africa and how do I get approval certificate

A. The NRCS Automotive Business Unit is the inspectorate and approval authority in SA. The Unit administer

both the NRCS Act and certain provisions of National Road Traffic Act ( Act No 93 of 1996) with specific

focus on the inspectorate approval of Manufacturer, builders and importers (MIBS) of Motor Vehicles.

The Act requires that anyone wishing to import, manufacturer or build motor vehicles for the purpose of

selling must register at their provincial offices of the Department of Transport.

The NRCS Automotive Unit has been mandated to evaluate the applicants and recommend to the DoT

regarding the suitability of registration of the applicant as MIB.

Registration may only be granted if DoT is satisfied with the recommendation made by both the NRCS

Automotive and the SAPS. A registered MIB will then be issued with a certificate of registration.

Only registered MIB may apply at the NRCS for approval of motor vehicle models for selling purposes.

Motor vehicle models must satisfy all the relevant legislation in order to be granted approval.

Q. I want to import a vehicle for my own private use and not for re-sale am I allowed to do that?

A. Yes, motor vehicles manufactured, imported or built for own use are allowed registration in South Africa if

they have been approved by the NRCS. A Letter of Authority must be applied for at the NRCS for a specific

motor vehicle and only if the relevant national legislation is complied with, a Letter of Authority will be

issued.

Q. Does NRCS Automotive Bussiness Unit conduct tests?

A. No, NRCS relies on test reports and certificates from a registered technical assessment body (test

laboratories) and the visual inspection to verify compliance of the motor vehicle model, thus it remains the

responsibility of the MIB to have their motor vehicle model tested before seeking for approval.

Q. What about other products regulated by NRCS Automotive Bussiness Unit?

A. Certain replacement components and accessories for motor vehicles are regulated. No person is allowed

to sell any products covered in the scope of regulated products unless such products have been tested

and comply with the relevant legislative requirements. Replacement components and accessories shall be

granted an LOA or homologation certificate if they meet the relevant legislative requirements.

These products include child restraints, motorcycle helmets, hydraulic fluid, brake pads, brake shoes and

linings, motor vehicle lights and bulbs, rubber seals for brake calipers and master cylinders, automotive

safety glass, tow bars, passenger and commercial tyres.

Q. Are there any fees paid?

A. Yes fees are paid in the form of levies and services fees for services rendered. Fees payable are gazetted

and are reviewed from time to time in consultation with the stakeholders.

Chemical, Mechanical and Materials Business Unit

The Chemical, Mechanical and Materials Business Unit is responsible for the regulation of compulsory specifications that fall within the scope of industry sectors. These include personal protective equipment (safety footwear, and respiratory protective devices, floatation devices and swimming aids), fire arms and shooting ranges, flame producing devices (paraffin stoves heaters, and cigarette lighters), health related products (microbiological safety cabinets and disinfectants), construction materials (cement and treated timber) and products that affects the environment (plastic carrier bags and coal burning stoves).

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Chemical Products, Mechanical Devices and MaterialsCompulsory Specification

(VC)

Name of product/service

Sample IndustryPurpose for Regulating


VC 9089: 2006

Non-pressure Paraffin Stoves and Heaters

Non-pressure Paraffin Stoves

Ensure safety of consumers and protect the environment

Leaktightness and self-extinguishing of appliance

Non-pressure Paraffin Heater

VC 9093: 2012

Pressurised Paraffin Appliances

Pressurised Paraffin Appliances

VC 8076:2002

The safety of Lighters

Disposable lighters (for cigarettes, cigars and pipes)

Refillable lighters (for cigarettes, cigars and pipes)

VC 8041: 2001

Microbiological Safety Cabinets (Classes I)

Microbiological safety cabinets (Classes I)

To protect the health and safety of the consumer

Containment of hazardous microbiological materials

Microbiological Safety Cabinets (Classes II)

Microbiological safety cabinets (Classes II)

Microbiological Safety Cabinets (Classes III)

Microbiological safety cabinets (Classes III)

VC 8028: 1976

Fire-arms for civil use

.22-Rim firearms Barrel and firing mechanism

Revolvers

Centre fire rifles and pistols


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(VC)




VC 8028: 1976

Fire-arms for civil use

Double-barrel shotguns


Barrel and firing mechanism

Single-barrel shotguns

All types of replacement barrels

Modified rim- and centre fire rifles, revolvers and pistols

Modified double-barrel shotguns

Modified single-barrel shotguns

Barrel and firing mechanism

VC 9088: 2004

Small arms shooting ranges

Small arms shooting ranges

Containment of fired projectiles

VC 9092: 2009

The preservative treatment of timber

The preservative treatment of timber

Level of protection provided against destructive biological organisms

VC 9085: 2007

Cement Cement Strength

VC 8072: 2011

Respirators Powered filtering devices incorporating a helmet or a hood (SANS 12941)

Protection of the respiratory track against harmful and hazardous substances

Power assisted filtering devices incorporating full-face masks,half masks or quarter masks (SANS12942)


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(VC)




VC 8072: 2011

Respirators Full-face masks (SANS 50136)



Self-contained open-circuit compressed air breathing apparatus (SANS 50137)

Protection of the respiratory track against harmful, hazardous and oxygen deficient atmospheres

Fresh air hose breathing apparatus for use with full-face mask, half mask or mouthpiece assembly (SANS 50138)

Compressed air line breathing apparatus with demand valve for use with a full-face mask (SANS 54593-1)

Compressed air line breathing apparatus with demand valve for use with a half mask at positive pressure (SANS 54593-2)

Powered fresh air hose breathing apparatus incorporating a hood (SANS 50269)

Continuous flow compressed air line breathing apparatus (SANS 54594)

Half masks and quarter masks (SANS 50140)


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(VC)




VC 8072: 2011

Respirators Half masks without inhalation valves and with separable filters to protect against gases and particles (SANS 51827)



Gas filters and combined filters (SANS 54387)

Filters for connection by means of breathing hoses to facepieces (SANS 275)

Particle filters (SANS 50143)

Self-contained closed-circuit breathing apparatus of the compressed oxygen or compressed oxygen-nitrogen type (SANS 50145)

Filtering half masks to protect against particles (SANS 50149)


Self-contained closed-circuit breathing apparatus for escape (SANS 53794)


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(VC)




VC 8072: 2011

Respirators Self-contained open-circuit compressed air breathing apparatus with full-face mask or mouthpiece assembly for escape (SANS 50402)



VC 8072: 2011

Filtering devices with hood for self-rescue from fire (SANS 50403)


VC 8072: 2011

Filter self-rescuers for protection against carbon monoxide (SANS 50404)

VC 8072: 2011

Valved filtering half masks to protect against gases or gases and particles (SANS 50405)

VC 8072: 2011

Compressed air escape apparatus with a hood (SANS 51146)


VC 8032: 2009

personal flotation aids

Buoyancy aids (level 50) (SANS 12402-5)

Minimum buoyancy provided

Special purpose buoyancy aids (SANS 12402-6)

Lifejackets for inland/close to shore conditions (level 100) (SANS 12402-4)

Lifejackets for offshore conditions (level 150) (SANS 12402-3)


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(VC)




VC 8032: 2009

Personal flotation aids

Lifejackets for extreme offshore conditions (level 275) (SANS 12402-2)



Lifejackets for seagoing ships (SANS 12402-1)

Special purpose lifejackets (SANS 12402-6)

VC 9002: 2011

Safety Footware Safety Footware Protection of feet against chemical, mechanical, electrical and environmental hazards

VC 9090: 2009

Swimming aids Swimming aids that are carried or worn on the body (SANS 53138-1)


Swim seats (SANS 53138-3)

VC 8054: 1999

Disinfectants and detergent-disinfectants

Disinfectants and detergent-disinfectants

Disinfecting efficacy

VC 8087: 2003

Plastic carrier bags and flat bags

Plastic carrier bags and flat bags

To ensure environmental protection.

Minimum film thickness

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Q. Can an inspector do an inspection without making an appointment?

A. Yes, in terms of section 17 (1) of the NRCS Act No 5 of 2008: “In order to monitor and enforce compliance

with this Act and, subject to the conditions of his or her appointment, an inspector may at any reasonable

time and without prior notice enter any premises, other than a private dwelling, in or upon which-

(a) an article in respect of which there is a compulsory specification is-

(i) manufactured or sold;

(ii) stored or used in the course of any business; or

(iii) stored for any purpose in connection with the import or export of the commodity or product;

(b) any manufacture, sale, use or storage is reasonably suspected; or

(c) any records with regard to the import, manufacture or sale of an article referred to in paragraph (a) or

(b) are kept. Inspectors have the power to enter any premises where

Q. What is the process to obtain an NRCS LOA?

A. There are application forms that you need to complete, and submit to NRCS together with the proof of

payment and required documentation that are specified in the forms.

Q. Can I import products into the country and then apply for an LOA?

A. No, you get the LOA certificate first, and then import.

Q. Will NRCS accept test reports from laboratories in other countries?

A. Yes, as long as the laboratory is accredited by a body that is a member of ILAC Affiliate (International

Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation).

Q. What is the period of validity of the LOA?

A. It differs per commodity type.

Q. How much is the application fee?

A. Fees are gazetted annually.

Q. Can NRCS assist with the completion of the application forms?

A. Yes. If assistance is required, the relevant inspectors can be contacted for appointments.

Q. Where can I get the standards referred to in the Compulsory Specifications?

A. From SABS Standards sales.

Q. If my product has the SABS certification, why do I need to have NRCS approval?

A. NRCS approval is compulsory and SABS certification is voluntary.


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Q. My product meets international standards, why should it be subjected to NRCS approval?

A. All products covered under the scope of a compulsory specification shall comply with the requirement in

South Africa. NRCS will therefore assess compliance to the relevant specified compulsory specification.

Q. Where can I obtain application forms?

A. Application forms are obtainable from the NRCS. We can email or fax them to you, or you can collect at

our offices.

Q. Where can I obtain a list of approved products?

A. The lists are obtainable from NRCS website or the relevant Business Unit.

Electrotechnical Business Unit

The Electrotechnical Business Unit enforces compulsory specification spanning a wide spectrum of electrical and electronic products. These include household appliances, such as heaters, refrigerators, television sets, plugs and adaptors, electric cables, lamps and circuit breakers.


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Eletrical Products and AppliancesCompulsory Specification

(VC)

Name of products/

serviceSample Industry

Purpose of regulating


VC 8055 Household appliances and similar products (LOA Required)

Manufacturers & Importer of Electrical Appliances

Ensure safe products reach the consumer

Overheating, insulation failure, inadequate earthing

VC 8055 Audio-visual equipment (LOA Required)

Manufacturers & Importer of Audio-Visual Equipment

Consumer Protection

High level of radiation/ insulation failure/Explosion CRT tube / incorrect audio frequency

VC 8055 Information technology equipment (LOA Required)

Manufacturers & Importer of Information Technology Equipment

Interference, insulation failure, explosion, fire

VC 8055 Handheld motor operated tools (LOA Required)

Manufacturers & Importer of Handheld Motor operated power Tools

Overheating, no or inadequate safety guards, electric shock

VC 8055 Transportable motor operated tools (LOA Required)

Manufacturers & Importer of Transportable Motor operated Tools

VC 8055 General purpose and fixed luminaries (LOA Required)

Manufacturers and Importers of Luminaries

Failure of Components, inadequate material used, overheating

VC 8003 Manually operated switches for fixed installations

Manufacturers and Importers of manually operated Switches

Overheating, electric shock

VC 8006 Flexible cords for appliances (LOA Required)

Manufacturers and Importers of flexible Cords for Appliances

Over heating, electrical failure

VC 8008 Plugs, socket outlets & socket outlet adaptors (LOA Required)

Manufacturers and Importers of Plugs, Socket Outlets and Socket Outlet Adaptors

Over heating, electrical failure, dimensions not to standard

VC 8011 Lamp-holders (Test Report Required)

Manufacturers and Importers of Lamp-holders


VC 8012 Appliance couplers (LOA Required)

Manufacturers and Importers of Appliance couplers

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Eletrical Products and AppliancesCompulsory Specification

(VC)

Name of products/

serviceSample Industry

Purpose of regulating


VC 8029 Cord sets, interconnection cord sets and cord extension sets (LOA Required)

Manufacturers and Importers of cord sets, interconnection cord sets and cord extension sets

Consumer Protection

Over heating, electrical failure, dimensions not up to standard. Electric shock

VC 8035 Earth leakage protection units (RCC Required)

Manufacturers and Importer of earth leakage protection units


VC 8036 Circuit breakers (RCC Required)

Manufacturers and Importers of Circuit breakers

VC 8039 Starters for tubular fluorescent lamps (LOA Required)

Manufacturers and Importers of Starters for tubular fluorescent Lamps

VC 8043 Incandescent Lamps (LOA Required)

Manufacturers and Importers of Incandescent Lamps

VC 8052 Manually operated switches for appliances (LOA Required)

Manufacturers and Importers of manually operated switches for Appliances

VC 8075 Electrical cables with extruded solid dielectric insulation for fixed installations (LOA Required)

Manufacturers and Importers of Electrical cables

VC 8077 Medium voltage cables for fixed installations (LOA Required)

Manufacturers and Importers of Medium voltage cables for fixed installations

VC 9091 Compact Fluorescent Lamp (LOA Required)

Manufacturers and Importers of Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL’s)

Over heating, electrical failure or explosion

VC 9087 Lamp control gear (LOA Required)

Manufacturers and Importers of Lamp control gear

Over heating, electrical and mechanical failure


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Q. What is needed to apply for an LOA for my product?

A. Full safety test reports acquired from accredited testing facility and not older than 36 months.

Q. Do my products needs an LOA?

A. Check the list of compulsory specifications on the NRCS website to see which products fall within the

scope of compulsory specification.

Q. Is CE certificate accepted by SA regulatory?

A. No, only full safety test reports acquired from the accredited test laboratory and not older than 36 months

are accepted.

Q. Is EN test reports accepted?

A. No, unless they are accompanied by a declaration report, declaring the equivalence of standards to SANS/

IEC.

Q. Who do I contact for Levies?

A. NRCS Finance Business Unit. (012) 482 8700

Food and Associated Industries Business Unit

The Food and Associated Industries Business Unit is dedicated to the protection

of health and safety of consumers by administering compulsory specifications for

canned and frozen fishery products, canned meat and live abalone. The Business Unit

administers various compulsory specifications on behalf of the Minister of Trade and

Industry in terms of the NRCS Act.


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Frozen Fish, Canned Fishery, Canned Meat and Live Abalone Compulsory Specification

(VC)




VC 8014 Manufacture, production, processing or treatment of canned fish, canned marine molluscs and canned crustaceans

Manufacturers and Importers of canned fish,canned marine molluscs and canned crustaceans

To provide assurance to consumers and other stakeholders that products comply with the minimum safety and quality requirements.

The minimum requirements of compulsory specifications are based on good manufacturing practice (GMP), good hygiene principles (GHP) and also contain certain minimum consumer safety, compositional, quality and labelling requirements

VC 8019 Manufacture, production, processing or treatment of canned meat products

VC 8017 Frozen fish, frozen marine molluscs and frozen products derived there from

Manufacturers and Importers of frozen fish,frozen marine molluscs and products derived there from

VC 8020 Frozen rock lobster and frozen lobster products derived there from

Manufacturers and Importers of frozen rock lobster and frozen lobster products derived there from

VC 8021 Smoked snoek Manufacturers of smoked snoek.

VC 8031 Frozen shrimps (prawn), langoustines and crabs

Manufacturers and Importers of frozen shrimp (prawns), langoustines and crabs

VC 9001 Live Aqua-cultured Abalone

Processors of aqua-cultured Abalone

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Q. Why is the flesh of Smoked Snoek sometimes soft and can such fish be eaten?

A. Certain organisms associated with snoek, under certain conditions excrete very active enzymes that dissolve the protein chains of the flesh and when the fish is cooked, the flesh becomes very soft and broken up.

The fish is safe to eat and won’t harm the consumer. Unfortunately this condition is not always obvious in the uncooked fish.

In a similar manner, canned pilchards, may also become very brittle inside the can.

Q. Why do frozen prawns sometimes become black on the surface?

A. The blackening can be attributed to a process called melanosis, which is a chemical reaction combining certain sugars, amino-acids and certain spore elements, like iron and copper in the prawns into the melanin compound.

The process is prevented by the use of certain anti-oxidants, such as sulphur dioxide.

Q. Why do people often become ill from mussels, oysters and similar marine molluscs?

A. Marine molluscs are known to accumulate certain marine biotoxins, excreted by certain Dynoflaggelates and bacteria present in the sea water.

For this reason, only marine molluscs acquired from sources that are under official control of Government bodies, should be consumed, while it is dangerous to consume molluscan shellfish acquired in any other way.

Q. Sometimes certain parasites are present in frozen fish products, are they harmful when ingested by consumers?

A. Due to low temperatures at which commercially frozen fish are subjected to, these parasites are dead and cannot be transferred to consumers by eating such fish. However, it has been indicted that a particular type of parasite can cause some allergic reactions to consumers, but only when they are present in large quantities. Consumers are thus advised not to eat fish that is infested with large quantities of wormy type of parasites.

Legal Metrology Business Unit

The Legal Metrology Business Unit is mandated to ensure that consumers receive the correct measure (amount of quantity) of goods declared by an importer, manufacturer or retailer on a pre-package or where a measuring instrument was used to conclude a transaction, that it remains accurate within prescribed limits of error.

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Legal Metrology

IndustryName of product/

serviceSample

Purpose for regulating


Consumers, Retailers, Pre-packers, Manufacturers and Importers of pre-packed goods

Market Surveillance An effective and efficient consumer protection service for all participants in the market of goods and services to create a level playing field by ensuring equity and correctness in all legal and trade metrology dealings, which are used as a basis for a transaction

Accuracy of goods measured pre-packed by mass, volume, length area or number

Pre-packers, Manufacturers of pre-packed goods

e-Mark quantity control scheme

To enhance consumer protection by ensuring that the consumer will receive the quantity declared on the pre-packed packages. The manufacturer may under certain circumstances affix put a special e-mark on his pre-packed products. This mark is not obligatory but, when used, it is a guarantee that the goods to which it is applied have been packed by mass or volume in accordance with SANS1841

Users of measuring instruments for legal or trade purposes

Verification service Measuring instruments used in trade must be verified at regular intervals or after repairs to ensure accuracy and correctness by a NRCS designated laboratory, proof of verification is through a verification certificate and applying a certifying mark to the instrument

Automatic and non- automatic weighing instruments; flow and volume measuring instruments length and area measuring instruments


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Legal Metrology

IndustryName of product/

serviceSample

Purpose for regulating


Manufacturers and Importers of measuring instruments

Type Approval Evaluation of measuring instruments, instruments are examined and tested to ensure that it meets the legal, technical and accuracy requirements in terms of the relevant specifications/regulations. Upon successful completion of the evaluation, a national type approval certificate is issued.

Automatic and non- automatic weighing instruments (including mass measuring instruments for traffic overloading control); flow and volume measuring instruments length and area measuring instruments

Manufacturers and Importers of gaming/gambling equipment

Type Approval The evaluation of test reports received from licensed gaming test laboratories, the certification of casino equipment, monitoring of control system(s), or any other gambling device intended for use in a licensed gambling venue

Hardware and software performance of Gaming and Gambling equipment

Manufacturers and Users of verification standards and ISO 9000 referenced measuring instruments

Calibration Laboratory

Provides calibration services to provide accurate and traceable verification standards to industry

Weights, measuring instruments (balances), volume verification standard instruments and volumetric measuring instruments (pipettes, burettes, tot-measures etc)

Verification laboratories

Miscellaneous Examination and registration of potential verification officers and the designation of verification laboratories to verify measuring instruments for trade use

Automatic and non- automatic weighing instruments; flow and volume measuring instruments length and area measuring instruments

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Q. What is Metrology?

A. It is the science of measurements divided into three branches namely: scientific, industrial and legal

Metrology.

Legal Metrology is measurements controlled by law concerned with the accuracy of measurements where

they have influence on the transparency of economic transactions, health and safety.

NRCS is an agency of the (the dti); has the mandate and sole jurisdiction to administer and enforce the

Trade Metrology Act, 1973 (Act No 77 of 1973).

Q. What does Legal Metrology do?

A. Legal Metrology Business Unit is mandated to ensure that consumers receive the correct measure of

product declared by the importer, manufacturer or retailer on pre-packaged goods or, where a measuring

instrument is used to conclude a transaction and that the instrument remains accurate within prescribed

limits. In short both industry and consumers are protected, which ensures fair trade.

This is achieved through the following:

• Ensuring that prescribed measuring instruments used for trade are type approved for proper design,

construction and accuracy taking into account the South African climate and environment before they

are allowed to be sold in the market for trade purposes

• Conducting inspection on goods and measuring instruments to ensure that importers, manufacturers

and retailers use approved and accurate measuring instruments for trade and that where there is pre-

packing of goods there is no short measure

• Through calibration laboratory providing traceability of accuracy to National Standard for verification

and inspection standard and, also standards used to approve measuring instruments

• Under the National Gambling Act, we are mandated to evaluate and approve gaming hardware and

software by issuing a Letter of Certification

• Providing technical input into national, regional and international standards development in the

metrology domain.eg International Legal Metrology Organization (OIML) SADCMEL and AFRIMETS.

The NRCS represents South Africa on the Legal Metrology matters on the forums mentioned above.

Legal Metrology will be aligning to international best practices through the new Legal Metrology Act,

Act No 9, 2014 which will mandate Legal Metrology Business Unit to regulate legal measurements in the

fields of health, safety and the environment in addition to trade measurements.


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Q. What does the e-mark mean?

A. The e-mark is a scheme designed to ensure consistent quantity control measures through registration by

the Legal Metrology Business Unit. This is a mechanism designed to enable industry to self regulate, instill

consumer confidence in pre-packaged goods and promotion of international and cross border trade.

Implementation of the e-mark scheme enhances consumer protection by ensuring that the consumer will

receive the quantity measure declared on the pre-packed packages. It is also beneficial to the pre-packer

in that it allows the packer to reduce overfilling on the products without disadvantaging the consumer,

resulting in savings to the packer or manufacturer.

Q. What is the registration process for the e-mark bearing importer?

A. Local Packer: The packer must submit an application for assessment of the packer’s quantity control

process to the Legal Metrology Business Unit. The application shall include the complete documentation of

the system to be implemented as well as an application form, on which the packer shall include the range

of products to be registered under the quantity control scheme. The documentation submitted shall at least

include the elements of the quantity control guidelines and the applicable standard.

Importers: Importers must submit an application form, a product list with information and proof of

compliance of the product(s) as required by the three packing rules to Legal Metrology Bussines Unit.

National Building Regulations Business Unit

The National Building Regulation Business Unit is responsible for ensuring uniform understanding and implementation of the National Building Regulations and Building Standard Act (Act No 103 of 1977).


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Overview

The National Building Regulation Unit is responsible for ensuring uniform understanding and implementation of the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act (NBR and BS Act), No 103 of 1977.

The Building Regulations Business Unit also protects the interests of SA citizens through:

• Pro-actively engaging with built environment practitioners and the relevant building industries for regulatory awareness, and developing and enhancing a culture of voluntary compliance;

• Identifying gaps in the enforcement and compliance to the building legislation;

• Adopting a risk-based approach that informs all of the NBR’s regulatory activities;

• Collaborating with strategic partners and Building Control Officers as implementers of the building legislation; and

• Building a competent team that oversees the implementation of the National Building Regulations and Standards Act.

The strategic objectives of the NBR are:

• Administering the NBR Review Board, an appeal mechanism provided to allow aggrieved parties to challenge local authorities’ building departments’ decisions and interpretations of the National Building Regulations;

• Providing technical advice and interpretation of the (NBR and BS Act) to the built environment practitioners and other interested parties, such as home owners, local authorities, government departments and the public;

• Performing building defects investigations that can be described as forensic architectural investigations. These investigations are performed to determine why and how building failures occurred;

• Evaluation of the qualifications of Building Control Officers who do not satisfy the required minimum qualifications as prescribed by legislation;

• Providing technical support and guidance to the SABS technical committees responsible for providing solutions to satisfy the legislative requirements in terms of developing the SANS 10400 range of documents;

• To inform the building industry’s stakeholders of the role and function of the NBR

1 2

Part of National Building Regulations Location of deemed-to-satisfy requirements

B: Structural Design SANS 10400-B, Structural design

C: Dimensions SANS 10400-C, Dimensions

D: Public Safety SANS 10400-D, Public safety

F: Site Operations SANS 10400-F, Site operations

G: Excavations SANS 10400-G, Excavations

H: Foundations SANS 10400-H, Foundations

J: Floors SANS 10400-J, Floors

K: Walls SANS 10400-K, Walls

L: Roofs SANS 10400-L, Roofs

M: Stairways SANS 10400-M, Stairways

N: Glazing SANS 10400-N, Glazing

O: Lighting and Ventilation SANS 10400-O, Lighting and ventilation

P: Drainage SANS 10400- P, Drainage

Q: Non-water-borne Means of Sanitary Disposal SANS 10400-Q, Non-water-borne means of sanitary disposal

34


1 2

Part of National Building Regulations Location of deemed-to-satisfy requirements

R: Stormwater Disposal SANS 10400-R, Stormwater disposal

S: Facilities for Persons with Disabilities SANS 10400-S, Facilities for persons with disabilities.

T: Fire Protection SANS 10400-T, Fire protection

V: Space Heating SANS 10400-V, Space heating

W: Fire Installation SANS 10400-W, Fire installation

X: Sustainable Buildings SANS 10400- XA Energy Efficiency in Buildings

NBR process flow

Core Function:

Building Regulator

Provide Technical

advice and

interpretation of the NBR and BS Act

Perform building

defects inspections

as impartial party

Ensure uniform

understanding of NBR and BS Act

Evaluate the

qualifications of

Building Control

Officers

Administration of the

Review Board

Ensure the uniform

implementation of

the NBR and BS Act

Nationally

Regulator within

technical committee

creating building

standards

Conduct workshops

on the NBR and

BS Act and its

regulations


35

Built EnvironmentCompulsory Specification

(VC)




NBR & BS and Review Board Regulation

Administering of Review Board Tribunals

Prospective Building Owners and Local Authorities

To ensure fairand uniformenforcement of the regulation

Fair implementation to ensure that the enforcer of the regulation, i.e. Local Authority applies and enforces the Act uniformily without unfairness or injustice to others. The NRCS oversees the activities of the enforcer to ensure fair regulatory process through an appeals tribunal.

NBR & BS Provide technical advice

Built - envoronment Practitioners, Building Owners and all other parties affected by the NBR and BS Act

To ensure uniform understanding and implementation of the NBR & BS Act

All Buildings, i.e. Residential, Commercial, Retail, Institutional, etc

NBR & BS Evaluating qualifications of Building Control Officers

Local Authorities - Nationwide

To ensure safety of buildings as an impartial party that ensures implementation of the NBR & BS Act uniformly for safety of occupantcs and environmentally

NBR & BS Conducting Building Inspections as an impartial party

Prospective Building Owners and Local Authorities - Nationwide, Built-environment Practitioners and parties affected by a specific building

Quality assurance for implementation of the National Building Regulations & Building Standards.

Building Plans required to be approved by a Qualified Building Control Officer

36



Q. How does the NRCS ensures that the buildings occupied are safe, healthy and environmentally

friendly?

A. The NRCS’s National Building Regulations Business Unit is responsible for ensuring that the legislation;

National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act ( Act No 103 of 1977) are;

1. Current, relevant and kept up to new building developments and that it addresses all aspects of the

building industry.

2. The NRCS National Building Regulations Business Unit is further tasked with ensuring that this

legislation is understood and uniformly implemented by the Local Authorities. The Local Authorities

being the implementers and enforcers of the National Building Regulations on behalf of the minister of

Trade and Industry.

3. The NRCS National Building Regulations Business Unit ensures that the built environment practitioners

are informed of changes to the legislation and provide them with technical interpretation of the

legislation.

4. The NRCS National Building Regulations Business Unit administers the Review Board, this is a body

which hears appeals against decisions made by the Local Authorities. The Review Board interprets the

regulations and suggests changes were appeals has shown that changes to the legislation would be

required to alleviate misunderstanding of the law.

5. The NRCS National Building Regulations Business Unit forms part of the SANS 10400 development

committees and provide technical advice to assist these committees to develop suitable national

building standards.

6. The NRCS National Building Regulations Business Unit evaluate the qualifications of the Local

Authorities Building Control Officers (BCO). These BCO qualifications have to satisfy stringent

requirements in terms of the Act.

7. Conduct workshops to building industry practitioners and Building Control Officers in an effort to ensure

promote the general understanding and implementation of the Act.

8. Conduct forensic architectural investigations as an impartial party.

Q. How do I know that the building I am occupying meets the building regulations and that it is safe?

A. Building Regulations are implemented and administered by the Local Authority. The Act requires that

any person who wants to engage in any building activity, to first get written approval from the Local

Authorities Building Control Officer. The BCO will request the submission of building plans and also follow

the building process during construction. When the building is complete such BCO will issue the owner with

an Occupancy Certificate which allows the owner to move into the new building. If you bought an existing

house, the approved drawings and accompanying Occupancy Certificate will indicate that the BCO was

engaged and that the law that protects occupants was utilised during the establishment of the building.


37


Q. What do I do when the Local Authority does not approve my building plans and yet I want to comply

to the Building Regulations?

A. If the Local Authority does not approve your building plans it means that your building application does

not satisfy the minimum requirements set within the legislation that ensures your building is safe to inhabit

and structurally stable. The Local Authority’s Building Control Officer will assist you in getting the problem

resolved.

If however you believe the Building Control Officer is unreasonable and interpreting the regulations

incorrectly, you have the right to appeal the decision made by the Local Authority. The decision should

be in writing and addressed to the Review Board for a hearing to be convened. You would be require to

provide reasons why you believe that the Local Authority is wrong.The Local Authority would be allowed to

defend the decision as part of the Review Board processes.

LIst oF ACCRoNyMs ANd ABBREvIAtIoNs


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LIST OF ACCRONyMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

IEC International Electrotechnical Commission

IECEE CB IEC System for Conformity testing and Certification of Electrotechnical Equipment and

Components

IPAP Industrial Policy Action Plan

ISO International Standards Organisation

MOU Memorandum of Understanding

SAPS South African Police Service

AFRIMETS Intra-Africa Metrology System

COTII Council of Trade and Industry Institutions

the dti Department of Trade and Industry

EU European Union

KPA Key Performance Area

KPI Key Performance Indicator

LOA Letter of Authority

NEDLAC National Economic Development and Labour Council

NRCS National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications

OECD Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development

OIML International Organisation of Legal Metrology

PFMA Public Finance Management Act

SABS South African Bureau of Standards

SADC Southern African Development Community

SANAS South African National Accreditation System

SARS South African Revenue Services

SLA Service Level Agreement

SQAM Standards, Quality, Accreditation and Metrology

SADCMEL SADC Cooperation in Legal Metrology

TR Technical Regulation

VC Compulsory Specification

WTO TBT World Trade Organisation Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade

EN European Standard

BCO Buiding Control Officer

MIB Manufactures, Importers and Builders

CE Conformity Assessment

NBR National Building Regulations

DoT Department of Transport

ILAC International laboratory Accreditation Council

40


NOTES

CONTACT US

HOW TO CONTACT THE NRCS

www.nrcs.org.za

Pretoria SABS Campus

1 Dr Lategan Road, Groenkloof, Pretoria PO Box: NRCS Private Bag X25, Brooklyn 0075

Telephone: +27 (0)12 482 8700

Cape TownTelephone: +27 (0)21 526 3400

Fax: +27 (0)21 526 3451

Durban Telephone: +27 (0)31 533 6700

Fax: +27 (0)31 533 6729

Port Elizabeth Telephone: +27 (0)41 398 6900

Fax: +27 (0)41 398 6944

Bloemfontein Telephone: +27 (0)51 447 4408

Fax: +27 (0)51 430 3485

Documents

Information Booklet - nrcs.org.za · health, structural stability and uniform interpretation of the NBR & BS Act and Regulations. THE NRCS STRATEGIC GOALS ARE AS FOLLOWS: • To develop,