Report on Modernising Technical Regulatory
Infrastructure: Accreditation and Measurement Standards
Bills
- Background
1.1 In 2004, Government tabled a discussion document on
Modernising Technical Regulatory Infrastructure for discussion in
Nedlac. Agreement was reached on broad approaches that would
be adopted in implementing the strategies contained in the
document.
1.2 Progress has now been made with implementation of the
approach as follows:
1.2.1 A draft strategy for a National Technical Regulatory
Framework was tabled in Nedlac in 2005. Once the strategy has
been agreed, it will be implemented in the form of an
implementation strategy in 2007 followed by a Bill in 2008.
1.2.2 Two draft bills were tabled in Nedlac in January
2006; namely, the Measurement Units and Measurement
Standards Bill, to provide for the establishment of an independent
National Metrology Laboratory; and the Accreditation for Metrology,
Conformity Assessment and Good Laboratory Practice Bill to
establish the South African Accreditation System as a public
entity.
1.2.3 Two further draft bills were tabled in Nedlac in March
2006, namely the Standards Bill and the "Compulsory Specification"
Bill, to provide for the agreed restructuring of the Standards
Authority and the separation of the standards and conformity
assessment activities of the SABS from the regulatory
responsibilities.
1.3 This report deals with the Measurement Units and Measurement
Standards Bill, as well as the Accreditation for Metrology,
Conformity Assessment and Good Laboratory Practice Bill.
2. Process in Nedlac
2.1 The Bills were tabled in the Trade and Industry Chamber of
Nedlac by Government on 19 January 2006. The Chamber established a
Task Team to consider the Bill.
2.2 The Task Team comprised the following constituency
representatives:
Business: Ian Charlton, Laurraine Lotter
Labour: Eric Watkinson, Tanya van Meelis
Government: Anna-Marie Lotter, Elsabe Steyn,
Marba Visagie
2.3 Task team meetings were held as follows:
20 February 2006
28 April 2006
3. Areas of Agreement
3.1 Constituencies agreed that the Bills should be revised to
accommodate issues raised and the resultant versions are set out in
Annexures 1 and 2. PDF
4. Cocnlusion
4.1 This report therefore concludes consideration of the draft
Accreditation for Conformity Assessment, Calibration and Good
Laboratory Practice Bill, 2006 and Measurement Units and
Measurement Standards Bill, 2006 at NEDLAC. The report is submitted
to the Ministers of Labour and other relevant Ministers in terms of
Section 8 of the Nedlac Act, No. 35 of 1994.
4.2 It is acknowledged that the Nedlac parties may continue to
advocate their views in the public consultation and other
structured processes.