Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies
Director General of Trade and Industry, Mr Lionel October
Chairperson of the South African Bureau of Standards, Mr Bahle Sibisi
CEO of SABS, Dr Bonakele Mehlomakulu
Chairpersons and CEOs of Companies present
Ladies and gentlemen
I am delighted to be here to open the new South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) laboratories.
Today’s event outlines the importance of standards to business, government and society, and how it could make a difference to the lives of our people.
This event happens a week after celebrating the World Standards Day which is celebrated on 14 October every year, and was celebrated under the theme “Creating confidence globally”.
Standards are often forgotten but are crucial cogs in our daily lives. They enhance the quality of everything that we use and consume - from appliances and medicine, to clothing and technology.
They ultimately ensure continuity in products and services for the benefit of both the producer and the consumer.
One agency charged with the mandate of developing and promoting standards is the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) which has brought us together today. This year marks 66 years of SABS in operation.
SABS continues to have a huge responsibility of improving the quality of goods and services produced in our country and their competitiveness in regional and international markets as well as protection of consumers.
In today’s global market, standards are crucial to realise and maintain market access. Domestic producers no longer have a secured home market.
Local manufacturers are now faced with competition in the domestic market, from cheaper goods produced from other countries.
Therefore local manufacturers have to produce goods of a high quality in order to secure their share of the domestic market.
As government we have also observed the growing influence of global, rather than local markets.
This means that our companies have to observe, and where necessary, adopt international standards in an effort to remain relevant with current marketplace requirements.
But standards are not only beneficial for commerce. They also create a safer consumer market. In this regard the newly promulgated Consumer Protection Act will increase the need for our manufacturers to demonstrate compliance to national standards.
Currently the SABS is positioned to provide the testing services to verify product compliance and can also provide long term assurance to the manufacturers through the SABS Mark.
This opportunity also comes with a heightened expectation on the quality of the SABS conformity assessment services because of the perceived joint responsibility towards the performance of a product or services bearing the SABS certification mark of approval.
Therefore, SABS has to ensure that it has the right capacity in infrastructure and management to guarantee that the perceived liabilities are eliminated.
This launch of the new laboratories is a significant step towards ensuring that the SABS has the necessary capacity to provide the services that will be required to meet the objectives of the Consumer Protection Act.
I, therefore, wish to take this opportunity to encourage local manufacturers and service providers to come forward in large numbers, and take full advantage of the product quality certification services SABS offers.
It is in the best interest of our companies to adopt and apply acceptable product quality standards.
In this regard, the SABS Product Certification Scheme and the SABS Mark of Approval can be used to assure all concerned, that indeed the said products meet the set standards.
As consumers, it is our obligation to demand good quality products and services from our suppliers.
SABS is there to specifically assist businesses to meet demands, enhance trade and contribute to the sustainable economic development of our country.
Since by itself, South Africa is a very small market, it is imperative that we expand our exports. These should be exports that are on par with international standards, such as those of the International Standards Organisation (ISO).
The fact that the number of ISO certified firms in our country are increasing, shows the increasing importance of ISO in the eyes of our manufacturers.
Therefore, there is a need for improvement of standards within the SABS itself.
I believe that the ongoing modernisation and investment in new laboratories of the SABS would further strengthen the organisation and increase its capacity.
Standardisation does not only reduce cost and wastage, create a greener economy or increased consumer safety. It also provides tangible economic benefits.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am pleased that a month ago the Minister of Tourism together with SABS launched the National Minimum Standard for Responsible Tourism.
The launch affirmed our commitment as government in the promotion of responsible tourism and the raising of awareness amongst tourists on the value of conserving our natural resources for sustainability to ensure continued growth in the tourism industry for years to come.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In less than a months’ time, the world will focus its attention on Durban, when we host the 17th Conference of the Parties (or COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The negotiators from different countries will have a challenging time to negotiate, and hopefully decide on the future of the Kyoto Protocol, before the expiry of its first commitment period in 2012.
As South Africa we continue to support ISO's development of international standards to tackle climate change.
International standards in the climate area should in the same way be used as a common language, and in that way, act as a catalyst for trade.
Climate standards could help to spread climate friendly knowledge and technology, support innovation, enhance knowledge in climate friendly technology, increase market opportunities and, in the long run, boost economic growth and welfare.
We remain fully committed to sustainable development and climate change mitigation.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In future I would like to see SABS engaged in an effort to speed up the standardisation of African traditional medicines.
We need to ensure that we develop standards for our traditional medicinal herb growing and preparation, improve the quality of traditional medicinal herbs and products.
We also need to establish national standard traditional medicinal materials bank, improve the quality control of traditional medicines, and relentlessly promote and implement quality control standards in different areas and raise the standardisation level of the entire sector.
We will do this, because studies show that about 70% of our total population depends on traditional medicine for primary health care.
This is our commitment as government to bring traditional medicine into the mainstream of health care, appropriately, effectively, and above all safely.
Ladies and gentlemen,
On this important day, let me challenge all businesses, small, medium and large to take advantage of the SABS and use the services it provides in order to improve the quality of goods and services produced and to ensure increased market access to the international market.
The benefit of this will mean increased employment and therefore improved quality of life for our people.
I thank you!
