Chairperson, I would like to thank hon Sinclair for the question.
The reply is as follows: The South African Bureau of Standards, SABS, is the national body responsible for the development of South African national standards, Sans, in terms of the Standards Act, Act 8 of 2008.
The SABS, therefore, does not receive applications, but receives many enquiries in relation to the South African national standards. Most of the enquiries relate to the existing 6 489 national standards that are available.
The SABS also receives regular requests for the development of new South African national standards, or the amendment of the current national standards. These requests are filtered and prioritised in terms of national priorities.
In 2008-09, 643 new and amended South African national standards were finalised. A consensus process is used to develop them. The average time necessary for the development of a new South African national standard or the amendment of a current South African national standard is 18 months to 2 years.
Over the next three-year period, the SABS will focus on the standards development activities in South African national standards required by the sectors prioritised in the National Industrial Policy Framework as well as standards for the environment, energy efficiency and water efficiency.
The DTI and the SABS will also increase the SABS's capacity and appropriately resource work with regard to the South African national standards. Thank you.
Targets set for foreign economic representatives and inclusion of these targets in investment and trade promotion targets set for Trade and Investment South Africa
74. Mr K A Sinclair (Cope) asked the Minister of Trade and Industry:
(1) Whether his department has set any targets for foreign economic representatives, FERs, based in missions abroad with regard to investment and trade promotion; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether these targets are included in the investment and trade promotion targets set for Trade and Investment SA, Tisa; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?