The development of standards is a core function of the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) and is essential for ensuring the quality, safety, and reliability of products, services, and systems. Here's a more detailed explanation of the development of standards.
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| Standards testing and accreditation overview | |
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| Formed | 1 September 1945; 78 years ago (1945-09-01)[1] |
| Headquarters | Pretoria, South Africa 25°46′10.61″S 28°12′45.53″E / 25.7696139°S 28.2126472°E / -25.7696139; 28.2126472 |
| Employees | 738[2] |
| Minister responsible | |
| Standards testing and accreditation executives |
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| Parent department | Department of Trade, Industry and Competition |
| Key documents |
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| Website | https://www.sabs.co.za/ |
The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) is a South African statutory body established in terms of the Standards Act (Act No. 24 of 1945).[3] It continues to operate in terms of the latest edition of the Standards Act, 2008 (Act No. 29 of 2008) as the national institution for the promotion and maintenance of standardization and quality in connection with commodities and the rendering of services.
As the national standardization authority, the SABS is responsible for maintaining South Africa's database of more than 6,500 national standards, as well as developing new standards, revising, amending, and withdrawing existing standards.[citation needed]
The SABS plays a critical role in ensuring the safety, quality, and reliability of the products and services in South Africa, and in promoting international trade through compliance with global standards.[4]
The SABS performs several essential functions[5] including:
Internationally, SABS experts represent South Africa's interests in the development of international standards, through their engagement with bodies such as the International organization for standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). SABS also holds the Secretariat for SADCSTAN, the standardization body for the Southern African Development Community of 14 nations.[citation needed]
Coordinated by the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, the Sanitary Dignity Framework was created to improve menstrual hygiene. It establishes a framework for a consistent approach to the provision of sanitary dignity to safeguard and restore the dignity of disadvantaged girls and women.[6] The SABS intended to standardize the production of washable, reusable sanitary towels in August 2019. The standard was published on 6 May 2020 and is intended to help meet the diverse requirements of women and girls in South Africa who require hygiene menstrual management.[7]
In 2019, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) signed the Declaration on Gender-Responsive Standards and Standards Development,[8] joining more than 55 other countries in an effort to enhance women's participation and representation in standardisation.[9] The declaration was adopted by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) in 2019.[10]
