DEVELOPMENT OF ACREDITATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN SADC AND AFRICA Mpho Phaloane Senior Manager: Mechanical and Physical South African National Accreditation System (SANAS)

Content Introduction Regional Integration SADC Accreditation Infrastructure; African Technical Infrastructure; Way forward

Introduction SADC was formed in 1980 as a coordinating Conference (SADCC) and was transformed to a Development Community in 1992 Comprises 14 countries namely Angola, Botswana, DRC, Lesotho, Malawi Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe The SADC Secretariat is situated in Gaborone, Botswana

SADC OBJECTIVES Achieve development and economic growth, alleviate poverty, enhance the standard and quality of life of the people of Southern Africa and support the socially disadvantaged through regional integration; Evolve common political values, systems and institutions; Promote and defend peace and security; Promote self-sustaining development on the basis of collective self-reliance, and the interdependence of Member States; Achieve complementarity between national and regional strategies and programmes;

Objectives cont. Promote and maximize productive employment and utilization of resources of the Region; Achieve sustainable utilization of natural resources and effective protection of the environment; Strengthen and consolidate the long-standing historical, social and cultural affinities and links among the people of the Region

background SADC SECRATERIAT SADCMETSADCMEL SADCA SADCSTAN Trade Protocol TBT Annex Promote regional cooperation in the development of harmonized standards and technical regulations Facilitate the exchange of information on existing standards, draft standards and technical regulations among members, and Facilitate the adoption of regional standards by member states. Infrastructure for traceability of measurement results The establishment of a harmonized legal metrology regime within member states that is internationally acceptable for trade promotion through the removal of technical barriers and enhanced confidence in trade measurements Infrastructure for accreditation for both voluntary and regulatory domains SQAMEG

SANAS’ Mandate 1996 SANAS appointed to represent RSA on accreditation matter in SADC 1997 SANAS appointed as Secretariat and Regional Coordinator of SADCA –12 Years in a row : Reappointed in March for further 3 years.

SADCA & SADCAS

9 Background SADCAS Established in terms of Articles 10(1) and 10(2) of the SADC SQAM MoU based on a model developed by the SADCA Task Group Incorporated on 6 December 2005 under the Botswana Companies Act Ch 42:01 as a non-profit limited company Approved by SADC Council of Ministers in August 2007 as a subsidiarity organization of SADC First multi-economy AB in the world

10 SADCAS Strategic Context Ultimate goal of SADC is to eradicate poverty Objective of the SADC Free Trade Area launched August 2009 –Eliminate obstacles to the free movement of capital, labour and goods and services –Improve economic management and performance Exports key to the development of SADC member states’ economies Standards and quality key for competitiveness Non acceptance of conformity assessment data is a significant barrier to inter and intra regional trade

The International Picture ILAC/IAF EA APLAC & PAC IAAC IAACInter-American Accreditation Cooperation EAEuropean co-operation for Accreditation APLACAsia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation

SADCA PROJECT SADCA Infrastructure for accreditation for both voluntary and regulatory domains SADCA (Cooperation) SADCAS Accreditation Body NAFP Focal Points EU NORAD Phase 1 Phase 2 PTB

SADCA’s Recognition 2002 SADCA accepted by both ILAC & IAF as regional cooperation for Southern Africa (Not recognised); SANAS appointed to represent SADC and SA in the ILAC and IAF Executive; 2003 turn focus to establishing SADCAS to meet ILAC/IAF requirements for 3 operational AB’s under a Cooperation;

SADCAS RECOGNITION SADCA MLA Committee SANAS National Mauritius OTHER SADCAS Multi –economy AB Currently 12 Member States MAURITAS National National RSA Where AB does not cover full scope ILAC/IAF

SADCAS Launch March 2009 SADCAS launched by Botswana’s dti Minister and Executive Secretary of SADC; Dec 2009, SANAS signed twinning arrangement with SADCAS –Currently 17 applications being processed through the arrangement;

SADCAS’ Launch SADC Executive Secretary Dr Tomaz Salomão and SADCAS Board Chairman Mr Riundja Kaakunga (Othy) shake hands after the MoU signing ceremony during the SADCAS launch Botswana Minister of Trade and Industry Honourable Daniel Neo Moroka congratulates SADCAS’ Chief Executive Officer Mrs Maureen P Mutasa after the unveiling of the plaque,

INTRA -AFRICA

IPAP Par. 9 Developmental Trade Policies Multi-lateral, regional and bi-lateral trade agreements are all creating long- term downward pressure on tariffs as an instrument of strategic trade policy. The role of technical barriers to trade and non-tariff-barriers is increasing the relative importance of technical infrastructure policies and institutions. Developed countries and advanced developing countries are increasingly using TBTs and NTBs to protect their markets. A sound technical infrastructure plays a significant role in the economy in two ways: –firstly, it assists firms to adopt and meet the quality standards necessary to compete in the global markets and –secondly, it assists in ensuring that low quality imports do not undercut the productive base of our manufacturing sector the dti’s medium term strategic objective of contributing to Africa’s development and regional integration, within the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD),

Cont: The Need for an African Technical Infrastructure Overview standardisation (African Regional Standardization Organization - ARSO) and metrology (Cooperation of African Metrology Systems - AFRIMETS) missing accreditation infrastructure to complete African TI.standardisation (African Regional Standardization Organization - ARSO) and metrology (Cooperation of African Metrology Systems - AFRIMETS) missing accreditation infrastructure to complete African TI. Africa will be able to engage international accreditation bodies such as the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation – ILAC, and the International Accreditation Forum – IAF more meaningfully participation on behalf of stakeholders of the African continent who would be too small on their own to make any significant impactAfrica will be able to engage international accreditation bodies such as the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation – ILAC, and the International Accreditation Forum – IAF more meaningfully participation on behalf of stakeholders of the African continent who would be too small on their own to make any significant impact AFRICA’S TECHNICAL INFRASTRUCTURE ARSOAFRIMET ACCREDITATION??

ACCREDITATION IN AFRICA COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE WORLD Over the past 5 years, Africa has made major advancement in the area of accreditation through the enacted of various agreements and laws to establish structures that deals with standards, accreditation, and metrology and conformity assessment. Especially in the area of accreditation, various accreditation bodies have been established or are in the process of being established SADCASSANAS KENAS LIBIA EGAG MAURITAS TUNAC

AFRAC AFRAC

AFRAC Progress to date During October 2008, initial discussions with ILAC/IAF recognised accreditation bodies in Africa was held to gauge the need for an Africa Accreditation Cooperation; The first formal exploratory meeting between representatives of SADC, COMESA, EAC and representatives of the established accreditation bodies in the region, was hosted by the government of Mauritius in March The meeting produced a letter of intent which was subsequently discussed with the relevant stakeholders in the various countries; In March 2010, the government of Egypt, hosted the third meeting where the draft bylaws was finalised, procedure for the identification and registration of peer evaluators, agreement on the name of the Accreditation Cooperation as well as a decision on the launch of the body was agreed on September AFRAC Launched Cairo Egypt. (SA) SANAS appointed secretariat,

AFRAC’s LAUNCH The Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD’s Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA), Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki represented by Professor Mohammed Elarbi Auoani and the Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry His Excellency Rachid Mohammed Rachid who was represented by His Excellency Dr Ahmed Darwish, Minister of Administrative Development were the guests of honour; The launch occasion was graced by over 50 dignitaries from African countries, regional trading blocs e.g. EAC, ECOWAS, UEMO, SADC, COMESA (support), etc., diplomats from various countries including the United Kingdom, Sweden and Germany, representatives from Physikalisch – Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) Germany and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), the European Accreditation (EA), Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC), Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC), the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC), African Cooperation in Metrology (AFRIMETS) and the African Organization for Standardization (ARSO).

WAYFORWARD AFRAC recognition as RC through ILAC & IAF; Comprehensive project plan and secure donor support; ID and train peer evaluators

Thank you SADCA & AFRAC Secretariat Ms. Nonhlanhla Halimana