The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) conducts a range of tests against South African National Standards (SANS), as well as customer specific requirements and/or testing against compulsory specifications that may be issued for certain product categories.

SABS offers certification schemes for both 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 on their product, says SABS lead administrator Jodi Scholtz.

She highlights that the SABS’ testing and certification services are offered independently, meaning that the SABS attains and maintains an accreditation status in order to offer the 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.

“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’ and it is important for consumers to understand that ‘SABS Approved’ can only be claimed by a manufacturer if the products was 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. 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.

Scholtz mentions that 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 very sample tested. Test reports do not imply that all the same/ similar products also comply or would pass the testing requirements.

She highlights that conformity assessment testing assists manufacturers during their product development phases to ensure that relevant modifications or enhancements can be made to meet specified criteria as well as to boost the quality of the product. Retailers and consumers are more likely to sell and buy goods and services that have been tested and have successfully passed testing to SANS or specific requirements.