The South African Bureau of Standard (SABS) has launched its new Local Content Verification Scheme, which offers domestic manufacturers the chance to certify the local content portion of their products or services.

SABS lead administrator Jodi Scholtz says the new certification scheme, which has a validity of five years, will subject domestic manufacturers to an initial audit after the self-declaration of the local content portion, following which a yearly surveillance audit will be conducted for the remaining four years of the scheme.

She says this will enable manufacturers to showcase the local content grade of their products before applying for any State procurement opportunity.

Also, the new scheme will enable procuring or sourcing organs, in both the private and public sectors, to implement their preferential procurement practices with greater ease in respect of local content requirements.

To date, the involvement of the SABS in local content verification has been limited to the verification of the local content composition of successful bidders in prescribed and designated sectors, and the verification and certification of mining goods as per the requirements of the Mining Charter.

“The SABS Local Verification Scheme will require an upfront audit of the self-declaration made by the supplier and will confirm the local content portion, after which the scheme certificate will be issued,” says Scholtz.

She adds that, if these audits are successful, manufacturers will then be able to re-submit the local content verification certificate for all State procurement opportunities that require compliance with local content.

Further, Scholtz notes that certification is a large portion of the SABS’s quality assessment business and that the SABS now has the ability to offer domestic manufacturers a combined product (mark scheme) and local content certification, which will enhance their selling opportunities in the public procurement system.

In turn, she says, this provides the various parts of government that procure goods and services, with an additional layer of assurance and quality control.