Page 57 - 40th Summit Brochure 2020

SHARING ACCREDITATION GOALS:
THE SADCAS EXPERIENCE

1. Why SADCAS?
The Southern African Development Community accreditation applications from 10 SADC Member
States namely: Tanzania (11); Malawi (8); Zimbabwe (5);
Accreditation Service (SADCAS) is a multi-economy Botswana (5); Namibia (4); Zambia (3); Madagascar (2)
accreditation body established in terms of Article 15 Mozambique (1); Eswatini (1); and DRC (1); and were
B of the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Annex to the at various stages of processing. Over the years,
SADC Protocol on Trade with the primary purpose of operational income has been increasing. The 2018/19
ensuring that conformity assessment service providers financial year saw a 41% increase in income from
operating in those SADC Member States which do operations whilst generally dependency on
not have national accreditation bodies are subject to government funding has been reducing from 100% as
an oversight by an authoritative body. Typically, in the at 2009 to 26% as at 31 March 2019. SADCAS services
developed world, each country has its own are focused on the priority sectors for development
accreditation body but within the SADC region in selected value chains as identified in the SADC
considering the cost of establishing and sustaining Industrial Policy.
such a body and further taking into account the
limited financial and human resources, the region Seven (7) out of the eight (8) accreditation schemes
decided to establish one accreditation body which offered by SADCAS are internationally recognized with
services the accreditation needs of a number of SADCAS having extended its international recognition
countries. Over the years, SADCAS the first multi to the Management Systems certification bodies
economy accreditation body in the world has proved accreditation scheme in November 2019. This means
to be a viable, cost effective and sustainable model that the certificates issued by SADCAS accredited
which optimizes limited financial and human calibration testing/ veterinary /verification/ medical
54 resources. A number of other regions in the world laboratories, and certification and inspection bodies are
such as the Gulf region, Economic Community of recognized in 103 countries worldwide thus removing
West African States (UEMOA), Caribbean Islands etc. the need for repetitive conformity assessment checks.
have benchmarked on the “home grown” SADCAS Effectively this means that through internationally
model, a concept developed by a group of experts recognized accreditation SADC Member States
from the SADC region. serviced by SADCAS have better access to 103 foreign
markets – A truly global reach.
2. Achievements So Far

SADCAS is now in its 12th year of operation and 3. Benefits of Internationally Recognized
accreditations continue to grow in terms of field and Accreditation
scope of accreditation, sectorial coverage and also in
terms of geographical diversity having accredited In addition to increasing business efficiencies,
facilities in Lesotho and Cote d’Ivoire and having competitiveness of products and enhancing market
accredited the first water meter verification laboratory access, at a macro level accreditation helps by reducing
during the past 12 months. By 30 April 2020, SADCAS the regulatory burden upon commercial organizations.
had issued 168 accreditation certificates to 136 Making regulation more effective and less onerous is a
accredited facilities in 13 SADC Member States common goal for governments across the world. With
namely: Tanzania (30); Zimbabwe (29); Botswana (21); confidence in the conformity assessment process
Namibia (15); Zambia (10); Eswatini (9); DRC (5); underpinned by internationally recognized
Mozambique (5); Malawi (3); Angola (3); Seychelles (2); accreditation, standards can be used to support a
Madagascar (1) and Lesotho (1); and two non SADC lighter touch approach to regulation, which in turn
countries Ghana (1) and Cote d’Ivoire (1). This means business owners spend less time tied up in red-
represents a remarkable 35% growth in new tape. By assuring technical competence, SADCAS plays
accreditations during the year and 39% growth in all an important role in facilitating regional integration and
accreditations including scope extensions. At the in the protection of health, safety and the environment
same time, SADCAS had cumulatively conducted 189 thus contribute towards the achievement of the SADC
training courses in 13 SADC Member States as part ultimate goal of achieving economic growth, alleviating
of its efforts to develop capacity of conformity poverty and enhancing the standard and quality of the
assessment bodies for accreditation. A total of 41 life of its people.