Chairperson, it's a pleasure to introduce the Second Reading debate on these two Bills. The Bills before us here deal with two of the three pillars of the national technical infrastructure that is normally the responsibility of government. A sound technical infrastructure plays a significant role in the economy in several ways, including by assisting firms to adopt and meet the quality standards necessary to compete in the global environment, and also by ensuring that low-quality, substandard imported goods do not undercut the productive base of our manufacturing sector. The purpose of the Measurement Units and Measurement Standards Bill is to provide for the establishment, powers and functions of a National Metrology Institute of South Africa, the NMISA, as a juristic person. The South African metrology system has been in existence for more than 60 years but, currently, metrology work is catered for through a metrology centre that reports to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research at the CSIR campus.
The mandate of the National Metrology Institute, like the current National Metrology Laboratory, will be to provide for the use of measurement units of the international system of units and certain other measurement units for the designation of national measurement standards and for keeping and maintaining national measurement standards and units.
Metrology, which is the science of accurate measurement, forms a pivotal part of the technical infrastructure. To be credible internationally, the national measurement units and standards must be compatible with international measurement units and standards. There is an ever-increasing demand to demonstrate equivalence of national measurement systems in international trade transactions.
At home, accurate measurements are essential for health and safety as well as for the development of industrial capabilities. For instance, medical diagnostic tools such as X-ray machines, lasers and other instruments need to be accurately calibrated to ensure safe operation and reliable diagnosis. In addition, measurement accuracy plays a critical role in enabling firms to participate in value chains of advanced sectors such as the aerospace or nuclear industries.
The repositioning of the NMISA as an independent public entity will align its status with that of similar technical infrastructure institutions in other jurisdictions. The Bill provides for the NMISA to be governed through its own board of directors and for a consultative forum and relevant stakeholders that can advise the board on matters pertaining to metrology, and for formal co- operation agreements with the CSIR on matters that may be of mutual benefit and interest, especially with regard to new research fields that may require the development of new standards.
An independent status for the institute is necessary as metrology is the foundation of the technical infrastructure, and we need to demonstrate organisational independence equivalent to that of international peers.
The NMISA is also the most advanced metrology institute on the African continent and therefore has a critical role to play in uplifting regional and continental peer institutes. The international standing of our national institute is demonstrated through its membership of all but one of the technical consultative committees of the International Committee for Weights and Measures.
The NMISA is also a signatory of the Applicable Global Mutual Recognition Arrangement and this facilitates the international acceptance of South African measurements and certificates.
The purpose of the second Bill, the accreditation Bill, is to provide an internationally recognised and effective accreditation and good laboratory practice compliance monitoring system for South Africa by establishing the South African National Accreditation System, Sanas, as a public entity. Sanas will be recognised as the only accreditation body in South Africa for conformity assessment and calibration.
Accreditation forms a vital second pillar of our domestic technical infrastructure. Accreditation is the process by which an authoritative third party, in our case Sanas, formally recognises the technical competence of conformity assessment service providers such as laboratories, inspection bodies and certification institutions. Such conformity assessment service providers normally operate in a fiercely competitive environment. Accreditation therefore assists local customers of such services by setting norms for conformity assessment service providers based on demonstrated competence. It also allows for the acceptability of local conformity assessment service providers by confirming their ability to perform specific types of testing, measurement, certification and inspection against a published and specific schedule of accreditation. The credibility of Sanas as an accreditation body is thus of immense value to our economy in this regard.
Increasingly, accreditation is used by South African regulators to ensure both the competence and consistency of the outcome of service providers used in the local regulatory domain. The Department of Labour is a case in point. It has outsourced inspection services in relation to fire extinguishers and vessels under pressure and now uses Sanas accreditation to monitor the activity of its approved inspection service providers as part of managing the local regulatory risk.
The increasing demand by large European-based food retailers for compliance with their own food production and safety standards is another case in point. Sana's competence in the area of food standards has been recognised by several international food retailers. This means that in certain cases local suppliers can use Sanas accredited certification bodies to prove compliance with these standards. This ensures that local produce is shown to comply with these standards prior to exports, and prevents the costs and unnecessary waste that would be incurred if such activity could only be verified at the point of entry.
As is the case with the measurement Bill, one of the main purposes of the accreditation Bill is to change the corporate form of the current institution by establishing it as a public entity. Sanas was established by Cabinet decision in 1994 and currently operates as a non-profit organisation in terms of section 21 of the Companies Act.
The new identity for Sanas is provided for in the Bill, and it is required first to meet the requirements of the National Treasury to phase out section 21 companies as government agencies; second, to facilitate the use of accreditation by government departments, especially in support of conformity assessments in regulation, and third, to recognise Sanas as the only accreditation body in South Africa for conformity assessment and calibration.
The Bill will also support the prescription of impartiality by the International Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation and the International Accreditation Forum in order to maintain international recognition of the activities of Sanas. In terms of the Bill, Sanas will have its own board appointed by the Minister of Trade and Industry as well as an advisory forum that will ensure that stakeholder interests are communicated to and considered by the board.
The two Bills before us are therefore aimed at strengthening the South African technical infrastructure, and I have pleasure in calling for their support from the House. I thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, hon members, the Bill before us is the result of the Department of Trade and Industry's endeavour to restructure South Africa's technical regulatory infrastructure and to optimise its standards, quality assurance, accreditation and metrology system.
Quality assurance, as members know from their constituency work, is important in a number of areas, from bread and butter, to bricks and cement. For instance, in the construction industry some unscrupulous building contractors continue to use substandard bricks and cement when building houses for the poor, with the result that these dwellings often collapse and cause deaths, serious injury and damage to property. With clear standards, quality assurance and stringent enforcement procedures, the days of the unscrupulous operator will be numbered.
The Bill further provides a framework to establish the SA National Accreditation System as a national accreditation body that is internationally recognised for calibration, conformity assessment and good laboratory practice.
It is envisaged that as the economic integration of the Southern African Development Community takes place and leads to greater growth and development, Sanas will have a crucial role to play in the region, and also in the context of the New Economic Partnership for Africa's Development.
The ANC supports the passage of this Bill through Parliament. I thank you. [Applause.]
Madam Chair, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, the object of the Measurement Units and Measurement Standards Bill, 2006, and the Accreditation for Conformity Assessment, Calibration and Good Laboratory Practice Bill is to align and restructure South African technical infrastructure with international best practice. Part of the restructuring is the reconstitution of the SA National Accreditation System, Sanas, which currently operates as a section 21 company.
These two Bills are responsible for a wide range of functions, for example the accreditation, calibration, testing and verification of laboratories, scientific inspection bodies that comply with the International Organisation for Economic Co-operation, and the Development Unit.
The DA supports both these two Bills, which are highly technical. They both provide for a board with executive and nonexecutive members. I appeal to the hon Minister to appoint members to these boards with specific competence and with knowledge that will add value to these particular bodies.
Die internasionale meting van metrologiese eenhede word dikwels deur ontwikkelde ekonomie gebruik om hul markte te sluit vir produkte wat van ontwikkelende lande afkomstig sou wees, as gevolg van die feit dat die produkte nie aan internasionale metingsvereistes sou voldoen nie, of onredelik ho tariewe word op hierdie goedere gehef. Hierdie wetsontwerpe stel Suid-Afrika en die SAOG-lande in staat om, sal ons s, onregverdige handelspraktyke te verminder.
Die belangrikheid van die twee wetsontwerpe is dat die wetenskaplike infrastruktuur onderhou en vergroot word, wat Suid-Afrika as die grootste ekonomie in Afrika maar ook in die SAOG-lande in staat sal stel om in 'n toenemende mate aan metingsvereistes rakende uitvoere in 'n kompeterende, globale mark te kan voldoen.
Vergun my ook die geleentheid om die Departement van Handel en Nywerheid, die Portefeuljekomitee oor Handel en Nywerheid se amptenare, en veral die persone wat gemoeid was met die finalisering van hierdie wetsontwerpe te bedank. Ek dink dit is 'n sprekende voorbeeld van waar die belange van Suid- Afrika eerste gestel is.
Werklike langtermyn ekonomiese vooruitgang kan slegs plaasvind indien dit op 'n wetenskaplik gefundeerde, internasionaal geakkrediteerde metingsinfrastruktuur geskoei is, en in wese beteken dit dat hierdie wetsontwerpe die kwaliteitstruktuur en -kultuur van die Suid-Afrikaanse metingbedryf sal verbeter. Ek dank u. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[The international measurement of metrological units is often used by developed economies to shut their markets to products suspected of coming from developing countries, due to the fact that these products apparently do not comply with international measurement standards, or these products are subjected to unreasonably high tariffs. This Bill enables South Africa and the SADC countries to, shall we say, limit unfair trade practices.
The importance of these two Bills is that the scientific infrastructure is maintained and expanded, which in turn enables South Africa, as the largest economy in Africa but also in the SADC countries, to comply increasingly with the measurement standards required for exports in a competitive and global market.
Furthermore, allow me the opportunity to thank the Department of Trade and Industry, the officials of the Portfolio Committee of Trade and Industry and especially those who were involved with the finalising of this Bill. I think it is telling proof of where the interests of South Africa were placed first.
Real long-term economic advancement can only be realised if based on scientific, internationally accredited measurement infrastructure and in essence it means that these Bills will improve the quality structure and culture of the South African measurement industry. I thank you.]
Hon Chairperson, Deputy Minister, members, up to now I have been listening to the debate, and we are all saying the same things. When our colleagues from the left-hand side are not speaking English, I don't understand them, but I presume we are still speaking about the same thing. However, I'm given two minutes, so I still want to use my two minutes, just to emphasise our support of this Bill.
The use of well-written standards in the conformity assessment process adds credibility and validity to the process. Standards should also specify all essential characteristics of our products. We are now part of our new global economy. I think everyone in this House would agree: We need a vision of how we can make South African product inspections and tests acceptable everywhere, not just in South Africa. We must strive to maintain the highest level of protection of safety and environment.
So, I challenge the government and the South African National Accreditation System, or Sanas, to work as partners to act aggressively, persistently and intelligently to advance our concepts as the basis for international standards. We cannot risk the prospect that our products and companies will be locked out of future markets.
It is well known that South Africa has a very good technical infrastructure and needs to keep up with international standards, especially in terms of measurement standards. Let us not forget that measurements are a key to competitiveness. There has never been a time in which measuring accurately has been more important to the nation's economic health.
Laboratory accreditation, product certification and management systems are too often used as nontariff trade barriers. Where one or more of these processes are needed to improve confidence between buyers and sellers or by regulators, this is where the National Measurement Institute can work to assure that the systems are open and add value rather than costs. Thank you very much.
Chairperson, the ACDP is pleased to speak in favour of the Measurement Units and Measurement Standards Bill and the Accreditation for Conformity Assessment, Calibration and Good Laboratory Practice Bill. South Africa has become an important role-player in the global village and therefore needs to conform to international best practices.
These Bills, inter alia, seek to restructure the South African technical regulatory infrastructure and to optimise South African standards, quality assurance, accreditation and our metrology system. Bringing to life an independent national metrology institute will not only enhance the technical infrastructure of the Republic of South Africa but will continue to be a direct link to the Meter Convention for SADC, through the SADC co- operation in metrology, and will provide appropriate measurements, traceable not only to South Africa but to the whole of the SADC region.
South Africa needs a body like the South African National Accreditation System that would be internationally recognised for calibration, conformity, assessment and good laboratory practices. The ACDP is convinced that the role that Sanas will play as an effective accreditation and monitoring body in South Africa will have a positive impact on technical services rendered by other SADC countries soon. The ACDP supports the Bills. [Interjections.] [Time expired.]
Chairperson, the MF acknowledges the efforts of the Department of Trade and Industry in these two Bills. In the fast developing world, it is crucial that we equip ourselves with tools that shall allow us to manage change and compete globally. This department plays a vital role in the economic structure and development of South Africa domestically and internationally.
It is clearly indicated that with the Accreditation for Conformity Assessment, Calibration and Good Laboratory Practice Bill, the department aims to modernise our technical infrastructure. As with the Measurement Units and Measurement Standards Bill, the MF supports the establishment of the National Metrology Institute. The MF supports the Measurement Units and Measurement Standards Bill and the Accreditation for Conformity Assessment, Calibration and Good Laboratory Practice Bill. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Madam Chair, hon members of the House and the Ministers present today, the Measurement Units and Measurement Standards Bill sounds like a very technical Bill, but, in actual fact, the Bill only seeks to establish the National Metrology Institute, which was previously part of the CSIR and the National Metrology Laboratory, as a juristic person that is independent from the CSIR.
The sector of metrology is usually very technical in such a way that we, as laymen, sometimes do not even know of its existence. It is, however, very important because in terms of international trade, standards, quality assurance and accreditation, it is the correct functioning of such an institute that keeps our products in the international markets. It is therefore very crucial for South Africa to have a very sophisticated and highly competent metrology system, in order to keep abreast of technological advancement in line with the globalised markets.
Western countries usually put very high standards on the products they import, especially products from Third World countries. This they do, knowing very well that most developing countries do not even have metrology institutes to be in a position to measure the standards of their goods. South Africa is doing a lot of good work for our fellow African countries in this regard. An example will be that of the Tanzanian fish that was banned in the European markets under the pretext of low quality and standards. South Africa came in and helped, and normalised the situation in the Tanzanian export market.
I wish the following Bills, the Measurement Units and Measurement Standards Bill and the Accreditation for Conformity Assessment, Calibration and Good Laboratory Practice Bill, would also be applied to political parties. We could then have standards of behaviour compatible with what our people expect from a South African Parliament. Standards of procedures for evaluating performance and intervals for evaluation would be set for these parties. We could then explain the consequences of substandard performance, because right now, substandard performance is the norm in these parties.
As of now, Madam Chair, you can imagine what might happen if you left the opposition parties alone in this House without the ANC. Chaos of frightening proportions! The beautiful textile and embroidery that makes our Parliament walls very beautiful might be replaced with female underwear. Neighbouring countries like Lesotho might be invaded and colonised. All the efforts to build stadiums for 2010 would be halted. There would be no Gautrain. Settlers might be sent back to Europe and the country might be called Azania.
The only reliable person who can be left alone without the ANC in the House might be hon Van der Merwe. At least, when we came back, our salaries would have been tripled. [Laughter.] I would not mind leaving him alone; in fact, I would advise that you leave him alone. The ANC supports the Bill. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms C-S Botha): Perhaps you want to move a private member's motion on that.
Chairperson, I want to thank all the speakers for their support, and in particular I want to welcome the recognition by a number of speakers that having in place competent, credible metrology accreditation and standardisation institutions is of very great value.
Issues of measurements, standards and accreditation are increasingly important, and so are issues of competitiveness. If you cannot meet basic standards, you cannot compete. They are also important matters of consumer protection and increasingly issues in international trade. As tariffs have come down and subsidies are under challenge, technical barriers to trade are becoming of increasing importance. And, if we are going to be a competent player in these areas, it is important that we have technical infrastructure in place that is up to the job.
I am also pleased that there was recognition that the Bills before us will contribute to the improvement and modernisation of our technical infrastructure and that there is broad support for the general direction.
I just want to comment on one point, which was raised by Dr Rabie, when he pleaded with the Minister to make sure that competent people were appointed. I should point out to him that both Bills require that the people who are appointed to the boards of these institutions have sufficient knowledge, experience and qualifications relating to the functions of these institutions. Of course, we want to maintain the standards. We want to ensure that the boards reflect our demographics and are in tune with the transformatory agenda. But, rest assured, maintaining the competence of these institutions will be our top priority. Thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Measurement Units and Measurement Standards Bill read a second time.
Accreditation for Conformity Assessment, Calibration and Good Laboratory Practice Bill read a second time.