A CREDIBLE AND RESPECTED REGULATOR FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC, THE ECONOMY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The NRCS primarily regulates the Automotive, Chemical, Materials and Mechanicals, Electro-technical, Food and Associated industries and is responsible for the Legal Metrology Act.

It was established on 1 September 2008 in accordance with the provisions of the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications Act, (Act No 5 of 2008). It emerged as an independent organisation from the original regulatory division of the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS).

The regulatory model of the NRCS is focused on ensuring that products that are manufactured locally or imported meet the minimum set standards as per the compulsory specifications or technical regulations. The VC/TRs set the minimum requirements for health, safety, environmental and Legal Metrology requirements. The organisation also plays a critical role in ensuring that local manufacturers comply with the minimum requirements, and facilitates exportation of South African goods to foreign markets especially within the Oceans Economy.

Compulsory specifications

The NRCS’s compulsory specifications are meant to protect South African consumers from unscrupulous businesses that either trade unsafe products, or don’t subscribe to the principle of fair trade across the markets. The need for regulation emanates from the fact that consumers in the whole world are driven by price rather than safety as they go about their daily transactions. This places a huge burden on the NRCS to ensure that the market is rid of all harmful products while at the same protecting the interests of South African businesses.

Technical regulations

Technical regulations prescribe the basic standards of goods traded in the market. These requirements need to be competently measured and such measurements must be compatible with the country’s trading partners in order to facilitate trade. Very importantly, consumers need to be confident that the goods they purchase are accurately measured, safe for use and an appropriate quality for their needs.

The environment within which South Africa trades and NRCS operates has been characterised by rapid and fundamental change. The rapid globalisation experienced over the last decade has created an open and fluid movement of an increasing variety of goods from various sources of origin. The global manufacturing base continues on the trend of migration from the west to the east, dramatically changing the traditional sources of products.

During the year under review, the NRCS has intensified its market surveillance activities and has deepened consumer knowledge about product safety across the country. This was done through a number of targeted interventions such as surprise raids, mall visits, and the rural engagement campaigns. Since the beginning of year 2022, the Regulator has visited four provinces namely Limpopo, Northern Cape, North West and Mpumalanga interacting with consumers in rural areas.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the NRCS played a critical role in assisting businesses that were providing essential services and adjusted its operations to ensure timeous and efficient service to the industry and other stakeholders.

Business improvement was enhanced to ensure timeous approval of essential goods and all other regulated products in order to assist the economy to continue functioning and recover from the negative effects of the pandemic. The NRCS also implemented business continuity plans aimed at ensuring that the NRCS delivers on its mandate regardless of the challenges posed by Coronavirus pandemic.

NRCS operations, although negatively affected by the impact of global pandemic in the last few years, the organisation fully, implemented the Risk Based Approach and will continue to target high risk products and businesses.

In the medium term the market surveillance activities of the regulator are expected to increase, mostly targeting high risk areas to ensure full compliance with the compulsory specifications.

On matters related to governance, the NRCS has received an unqualified audit in the last audited financial year which is an improvement compared to previous reports. 

For more info on the organisation, please follow our social media platforms and website:

Facebook: OfficialNRCSPage

Twitter: @NRCS_ZA

LinkedIn: National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications

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YouTube: National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications

Website: www.nrcs.org.za