The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) conducts a range of tests against South African National Standards (SANS), as well as against customer-specific requirements and/or against compulsory specifications that may be issued for certain product categories.
Consumers and end users should be aware of the distinction between SABS test reports (left) and the permit to use the ‘SABS Approved’ certification mark (right).
The SABS offers certification schemes for products and/or systems that comply with the SANS or a relevant Mark scheme/systems scheme, such as the Scheme for Food Safety Management Systems (FSSC). Additionally, many products undergo more frequent testing and conformity assessments to earn their status, which allows them to use the ‘SABS Approved’ mark, respectively.
The SABS’ testing and certification services are offered independently. This means the SABS attains and maintains an accreditation status in order to offer its testing and certification services. In some cases, where the SABS uses third-party laboratories – the laboratories need to meet stringent requirements and are subject to assessments and inspection by the SABS.
Jodi Scholtz, Lead Administrator of the bureau says, “The SABS is aware that there are numerous manufacturers in possession of SABS test reports which they use as evidence that their products are SABS Approved. It is important for consumers to understand that SABS Approved can only be claimed by a manufacturer if the product is actually certified by the SABS. The SABS laboratory test report is a report of the performance of that product against requirements of a standard or other client-specific requirements, and this does not indicate that the product is ‘SABS Approved’ in any way.” Scholtz clarifies further: “A SABS permit to apply the Certification Mark is a more comprehensive statement of quality assurance of the product or system.” Testing is just one of the requirements in the complete SABS certification process.
Beyond testing
The testing of products and systems is essential to determine whether performance meets specified requirements of the standard, and this is done in controlled and simulated environments. Test reports provide information about a product at the time of testing and are limited to the sample tested. Test reports do not imply that all the same or similar products also comply or would pass the testing requirements.
Conformity assessment testing assists manufacturers during the product development phases to ensure that relevant modifications or enhancements can be made to boost the quality of the product where necessary and to meet specified criteria.
Goods and services that have been tested and have successfully passed testing to SANS or specific requirements gain a level of confidence among consumers, but there are a number of reasons why testing does not provide the same assurance as certification.
- A golden sample scenario – in such cases a manufacturer produces a high-quality product with the intent of passing required testing and, once a test report is obtained, then produces inferior products or changes the ingredients of the product in order to make the products cheaper to manufacture.
- Poor manufacturing conditions – while a product may be tested successfully for performance it can be produced in unhygienic conditions which could result in contamination of products or the ingredients used. There is also no assurance that the quality of future products will be the same as that of the sample submitted for testing.
- Partial testing – especially with large products or equipment, it is not feasible to subject large products, or customised products, to full performance testing. For example, with mining equipment, cars or transformers, or in instances where the manufacturer is developing a product and is interested in a specific parameter, the manufacturer would normally approach the SABS laboratories for testing of only the parameters of interest.
- Insufficient testing – with fast-moving consumer goods, for instance, given the nature of the industry, products are manufactured in batches and once-off testing is insufficient to provide the relevant assurance that all the products in a batch or subsequent batches are made to the same quality as the samples that successfully passed a test.
“A SABS test report reflects the results of specific conditions for a particular sample only and it is irresponsible for a manufacturer to claim that a SABS test report is an endorsement of the quality of the product. In cases where retailers only require test reports in order to sell products, this is usually accompanied by frequent testing and surveillance requests. Testing is required, but certification of products and management systems is a more reliable and comprehensive measure of quality,” Scholtz explains.
“The SABS Mark Scheme, commonly referred to as SABS Approved, is a certification scheme that provides confidence in the quality of the products and the production processes to manufacture the product. Samples are collected from the production facility, and retail outlets (where relevant), over different periods in a three-year cycle to ensure that products are produced to the approved quality all the time. Samples are collected independently and unscheduled inspections are done at facilities to add to the assurance of quality products being produced,” says Scholtz.
Clients need to apply specifically for certification at the SABS. Should a client be successful in obtaining a permit to apply the SABS Approved trademark to its products, the assessment of the production facilities will be done in accordance with the requirements of SANS/ISO 9001: quality management systems.
In cases where products are considered high risk, for example where raw materials used in the production process are unstable or where there is a high consumer danger, the SABS works with the customer and regulatory authorities to impose and implement additional consumer safety measures.
A preferred partner
Manufacturers looking to test their products or to have their products or systems certified should consult the SABS. As the custodian for the development and maintenance of all South African National Standards, it is the logical place to start to conduct a self-assessment for quality requirements.
Should products and/or the implementation of systems be at an advanced level, the SABS can offer quotations for independent assessments and for consideration for certification.
“For seven decades, the SABS has been working with industries, regulators, consumer bodies, academics, manufacturers and consumers themselves to develop standards and certification schemes that improve the overall quality of life for all communities. SABS Approved is a trusted brand and the SABS is committed to ensure that only clients – and products – that merit the SABS certification mark have the privilege and permit to apply it,” concludes Scholtz.
All clients and products that are permitted to use the SABS Approved trademark are published on the SABS website and the listing is regularly updated. This enables consumers to verify the certification status of products.
For more information visit: www.sabs.co.za
