SABS Implements ILAC Process for EMC CoCs: What You Need to Know

The South African Government Gazette published General Notice 751 on January 3, 2022, which mentioned the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) would accept Certificates of Conformance (CoCs) regarding Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) applications with International Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation (ILAC) test reports, contrary to the current process, which only accepts test reports issued by the A-Lab program. 

On June 3, 2016, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and SABS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), ensuring both entities collaborate on a revised approach to issuing CoCs regarding regulated EMC standards. As a result of this MoU, electronic equipment (non-telecommunication) that falls under the mandate of ICASA will be subjected to a robust conformity assessment procedure to ensure that such products meet the quality requirements as stipulated in the applicable South African National Standards (SANS).

In 2022, it is anticipated that there will be an increase in demand of CoC applications due to ICASA's enforcement of the regulation through market surveillance. A risk management process has been followed, which allows the SABS to develop a scheme that will enable ILAC affiliates-issued test reports to be used without compromising the objectives of the SABS EMC CoC process.

SABS is currently busy with the WTO (World Trade Organisation) process – and once this process is completed – SABS will officially inform all relevant stakeholders about the implementation of the SABS process to accept ILAC test reports – and the timelines from the WTO are as follows:

• WTO Submission done by the SABS on May 16, 2022.
• 60 days turnaround period from the WTO (July 15, 2022).
• 30 days for the SABS to reply to any queries emanating from the WTO (August 12, 2022).
• 30 days for the SABS implementation after all WTO queries are resolved (September 12, 2022).

SABS confirmed that they would officially implement the ILAC process on November 1, 2022. The SABS UIN number is still needed on the ILAC test report. SABS EMC CoC's lead time for using the ILAC test report will be longer than the test report issued under the A-Lab program.

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