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South Africa

Capitalise on the market opportunities in South Africa

South-Africa

Regulations and compliance requirements can pose challenges to companies who are looking to export their new products in South Africa. Most products must meet local standards and requirements to ensure products are safe, good quality, and fit for consumers’ needs.

Ensure that your products successfully meet South African standards by working with TÜV SÜD. We fully understand the local requirements and procedures applicable in South Africa.

Click on the categories below for market access information

Plug Types

Type C

Plug C 

Type D

Plug D

Type M

Plug M 

Type N

Plug N

Electrical Safety

Regulatory agency

National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS)

Regulations

  • A Letter of Authority (LoA) is required by manufacturers of regulated products upon conformity assessment.
  • Test reports must be from a test laboratory by a national accreditation body affiliated to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and/or be an IECEE CB Scheme member.
  • On top of LoA, manufacturers of regulated products may choose to obtain the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) Mark.
  • Compliance with SANS and/or IEC standards.

Guidelines

  • A local representative is required.
  • Manufacturers are first required to register with the NRCS Electrotechnical Department before a LOA will be issued.

LoA procedure:

  • Application

  • Submission of test report and essential documents

  • Review

  • Issuance of LoA

Applicable product categories

To determine if a particular product is subject to the above regulations, please contact us.

Telecom & Wireless

Regulatory agency

Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA)

Regulations

  • Type approval is required for regulated equipment.
  • ICASA accept test reports against the relevant EN standards, provided that the testing has been performed at an accredited test facility.
  • Products must be marked with ICASA label.
 

Guidelines

Type approval procedure:

  • Submission of application, test reports and essential documents.
  • Review.
  • Issuance of type approval.
  • Labelling as appropriate.

Applicable product categories

To determine if a particular product is subject to the above regulations, please contact us.

Our services at a glance

TÜV SÜD has the experience and capability to support manufacturers in attaining compliance with South African requirements and obtaining the necessary approval.

EMC

Regulatory agency

South African Bureau of Standards (SABS)

Regulations

  • EMC compliance is required for the above, where applicable.
  • CoC for EMC is required for some equipment.
  • The test report should follow the new scheme option is ILAC-accredited and the related SANS standard is in scope. Customer can test with SABS A-Lab scheme Laboratories.*

* TÜV SÜD PSB Pte Ltd and TÜV SÜD America Inc. were assessed and recommended for inclusion into the SABS A-Lab Program.

Guidelines

Type approval procedure:

  • Submission of application, test reports and essential documents.
  • Review.
  • Issuance of type approval.
  • Labelling as appropriate.

Applicable product categories

To determine if a particular product is subject to the above regulations, please contact us.

Our services at a glance

TÜV SÜD has the experience and capability to support manufacturers in attaining compliance with South African requirements and obtaining the necessary approval.

Energy Efficiency

Regulatory agency

National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS)

Regulations

  • Energy Efficiency Label:

A number of appliances sold in South Africa must be labelled with a South African Energy Efficiency Label. The label indicates how much electricity the appliance is expected to use and how the efficiency of the appliance is rated in relation to other appliances in the same category.

  • MEPS:

South Africa has put in place regulations that require appliances sold in South Africa to meet Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS). These regulations have been put in place to protect consumers from purchasing appliances that use a wasteful amount of electricity.

South Africa MEPS mark

Guidelines

Test reports in IEC/EN format or any equivalent format acceptable to the NRCS and issued by an appropriately accredited and internationally recognised body which is a member of an IAF/ILAC/IECEE mutual recognition scheme in accordance with the NRCS’s conformity assessment policy.

Applicable product categories

Product categories that require mandatory energy efficiency labelling include:

  • Air conditioners
  • Dishwashers
  • Electric ovens
  • General Service Lamps (GSLs)
  • Light bulbs (electric lamps)
  • Refrigerators and freezers
  • page-content water heater
  • Tumble dryers
  • Washer-dryer combinations
  • Washing machines

The following MEPS have been specified: 

Minimum Energy Efficiency
Rating of Class A: 
Minimum Energy Efficiency 
Rating of Class B: 
Minimum Energy Efficiency 
Rating of Class C: 
Minimum Energy Efficiency 
Rating of Class D: 
Others: 
  • Dishwashers
  • Electric overs (small & medium)
  • Washer-dryers
  • Washing machines
  • Air conditioners
  • Electric overs (large)
  • Fridges
  • Fridge-freezers
  • page-content water heater
  • Freezers
  • Tumble dryers
 Audio-visual equipment -
In passive standby mode power consumption should not exceed 1W, except for set-top boxes which must not exceed 3W.

To determine if a particular product is subject to the above regulations, please contact us.

Our services at a glance

TÜV SÜD has the experience and capability to support manufacturers in attaining compliance with South African requirements and obtaining the necessary approval. TÜV SÜD can also support manufacturers in obtaining voluntary endorsement labels.

Our services at a glance

As a CB Scheme member, TÜV SÜD can perform testing to applicable standards for safety approval.

Why choose TÜV SÜD

TÜV SÜD has the expertise and laboratory infrastructure to support manufacturers in obtaining the necessary approvals and compliance in accordance to the Sties internationally. TÜV SÜD also supports manufacturers in obtaining voluntary endorsement labels.

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