National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications
26 February 2009
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Mandisi Mpahlwa, today launched the
National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) at Diep in die Berg
Conference Centre, in Wapadrand, Pretoria East.
The NRCS is a public institution of the Department of Trade and Industry
(the dti), responsible for the administration of compulsory specifications and
other technical regulations based on standards that protect human health and
safety, and the environment. The NRCS ensures the fairness of national and
international trade by administering trade metrology regulations that set
requirements for measurements of quantity for trade purposes. The regulatory
division of the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) had previously
performed this function.
In his keynote address, Minister Mpahlwa said the launch represented another
milestone and concrete achievement emanating from the strategy developed and
implemented by the department over the past years. The aim of the strategy is
to modernise the South African technical infrastructure.
"This strategy was developed because we recognised that the quality of
technical infrastructure resources was becoming increasingly important in
shaping the trading opportunities for South Africa. We understood that we had
to act quickly to anticipate future developments rather than to eventually
become overwhelmed by them," said Mpahlwa.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the NRCS, Moses Moeketsi, said the new
regulator's main objective was to become an effective and efficient regulatory
entity in South Africa, which would reach its organisational goals and not only
be recognised regionally and nationally, but also globally.
"In order to execute our mandate more effectively, we would like to work in
partnership with other regulators and legislative authorities such as the South
African Revenue Service (SARS), Port Health Authority, as well as governmental
agencies and conformity assessment authorities. Subsequently, we would like the
partnership to cascade even further to other government departments, where we
can perform regulatory activities on their behalf. This will have a far more
reaching impact in enabling government to meet its obligations to the World
Trade Organisation (WTO), the requirements of good governance, and opens the
conformity assessment market to free and fair national and international
competition," added Moeketsi.
The NRCS was established by the National Regulator for Compulsory
Specifications Act of 2008, to make recommendations to the Minister of Trade
and Industry with regard to compulsory specifications, administer and maintain
compulsory specifications and enforce compliance with regulations.
The NRCS protects the consumer and environment by enforcing compulsory
specifications for:
* food and allied products
* vehicles, tyres and vehicle components
* electrical products and components
* building and construction materials
* cleaning and sanitation chemicals
* personal protective equipment
* firearms and shooting ranges
* plastic bags
* vehicle emissions and
* energy efficiency and labelling of electrical appliances and vehicles.
Media enquiries should be directed to:
Sidwell Medupe
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 073 522 6801
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Mirriam Moswaane (NRCS)
Tel: 012 428 6848
Cell: 083 364 2007
E-mail: moswaamm@nrcs.org.za
Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
26 February 2009
