Page 3 - EngineerIT March 2022

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK

COC for non- telecommunications

equipment

On 14 December 2021, ICASA published a Government Applicants that are affiliated to the A-Lab
Gazette clarifying whose certificates of compliance for non- programme are guaranteed priority with turnaround
telecommunications equipment would be accepted, an issue that times of ten working days for CoC issuance, while
has taken many years to resolve. applicants that are non-affiliates have a turnaround
time of thirty working days. This is largely because
On 30 March 2016, ICASA and the SABS entered into a the SABS has a streamlined process with A-Lab
Memorandum of Understanding. The MoU aimed to establish a affiliates, wherein laboratories have a clear
formal relationship, promote co-operation and ensure that non- understanding of SABS requirements and have the
telecommunications electronic equipment entering South Africa met established SABS templates.
essential requirements for issuing Certificates of Compliance (CoC).
The clarification by ICASA at least clears up whose
The MoU enabled the two entities to, amongst other things, CoC’s are acceptable in South Africa but it does not
collaborate in order to provide a framework in terms of which the really solve the real problem, namely the importation
SABS would assist ICASA to execute its mandate of issuing CoCs for of non-telecommunication equipment that does
non-telecommunications equipment. not meet the EMC requirements. There are so many
brands of energy saving and LED lamps, as well as
The MoU stated that the SABS would implement a TYPE 3 quality solar energy generation systems, that interfere with
assurance scheme. This scheme enables the SABS to collaborate the radio frequency spectrum.
with accredited local and international testing facilities to ensure
a streamlined process without compromising the objectives of It does not help very much to only check the import
the CoC process. This meant that an overseas test laboratory documentation; paper can be very indulgent. We need
certificate would only be accepted if the laboratories were to sharpen our ability to enforce regulations but that
accredited by the SABS. requires trained manpower at every point of entry
into South Africa. Currently, non-compliant equipment
Most overseas laboratories were not interested in going through enters the country packed in containers of goods that
an SABS process. Could we really expect them to do so if their CoC have valid CoC’s and therefore go undetected. It is not
certificates are accepted internationally? What were ICASA and practical to unpack every container, so the responsibility
SABS thinking? shifts to all of us to report non-telecommunication
equipment that creates havoc on the radio frequency
On 26 September 2017, ICASA published a media statement, spectrum. I guess I am pipe- dreaming because that is
informing stakeholders about the notification that had been lodged unlikely to happen until the day it crashes our mobile
by the SABS with the WTO. communications system. “Ek sê maar net!”

The Authority and the SABS received complaints in relation to the Enjoy this edition of Engineer IT.
WTO notification and subsequently revised the A-Lab programme
to address concerns. The considerations made by the SABS and Greetings
the Authority focused on accepting EMC CoC applications from
test laboratories accredited by the International Laboratories Hans van de Groenendaal
Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), contrary to the initial approach Editor
where only test laboratories that were authorised and integrated hansv@nowmedia.co.za
into the A-Lab programme could apply for EMC CoCs. 082 781 4631

EngineerIT | March 2022 | 1