Committee on Trade and Industry encourages NRCS to continue to focus on rooting out non-compliant goods to protect consumers
The Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry earlier today had a constructive engagement with the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS).
Chairperson of the Committee, Ms Joanmariae Fubbs, said: “It must stamp out what appears to have become a culture of non-compliance by importers of goods that risk the health and safety of consumers.”
In an attempt to expedite the Letter of Authority (LOA) to import products that guarantees the safety of products for South African use, the Committee will monitor progress in implementing the Risk Based Approach which would be operational by the end of June. The Committee intends to examine this process and its progress very carefully and request regular updates.
The Committee also encouraged the NRCS to keep its focus on its mandate, which is to protect consumers against sub-standard or non-compliant goods, to protect the environment and enhance fair trade and not be intimidated by those importers seeking short-cut measures.
“We are also concerned about the amount of imports that enter our shores without the correct documentation and the fact that certain applications are only made once goods reach the country. This is unacceptable.”
The Committee heard that over the last few years LOA applications have increased substantially, from 400 to 1 200 a month. It further heard that at times compliant products are sent for pre-market evaluations, however, after receiving certification the standards of these products are compromised and lowered during mass productions.
The Committee rejects any allegations that the period taken to process LOA applications, 120 days, are used to block importations in an attempt to ensure that South Africa produces these products itself. Ms Fubbs said: “This must be rejected with the contempt it deserves. The NRCS is merely delivering on its mandate to ensure that quality products which do not endanger the lives of South African, enter our markets.”
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