Technical Regulatory Framework for SA

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MEASUREMENT UNITS AND MEASUREMENT STANDARDS
BILL, 2006 23 August 2006
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Why do we need metrology i.e. the science of
measurement?

• When we are shopping
• When we heat or cool our homes
• When we buy fuel
• When size matters or we pay for quality
• When we consult a doctor or attend hospital
• When our actions are the subject of legislation
• - Euromet

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Structure of Presentation

• Background and context - South African and Global
  Technical Infrastructure
• International practice in metrology
• History of the National Measurement system
• Review of the National Measurement system
• Purpose of bill Need for change
• What does the NMI do? - Mandate
• Process thus far Parties Consulted
• Financial, Personnel and Organisational
  Implications
• Summary

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Technical Infrastructure

• Metrology, together with standards, technical
  regulations, accreditation and conformity
  assessment, are collectively known as the
  technical infrastructure.
• Globalisation is increasing the demands on
  countries to demonstrate that they have the
  technical infrastructure to guarantee that
  products originating in their territories are
  safe and fit for purpose.
• Technical infrastructure is crucial to meet the
  standards and measurement challenges required by
  health and safety considerations, environmental
  considerations (including climate change), as
  well as considerations of interoperability
  (necessary for globally dispersed manufacturing
  platforms).
• Institutions in this domain need to be maintained
  and improved in order to remain relevant as the
  platform for global economic efficiency and
  market access of products.

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SOUTH AFRICAS TECHNICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
SABS- STANDARDS Specific technical requirement of
a product or a system
NMI- MEASUREMENT Underpins testing calibration
through national measurement standards
SANAS- ACCREDITATION Assures competence
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Globalisation and Technical Infrastructure
WTO TBT
Standardisation (ISO/IEC)
Accreditation (ILAC/IAF)
Metrology /BIPM)
INTERNATIONAL
SADCMET EUROMET APMP
SADCA EA APLAC
SADCSTAN CEN/CENELEC PASC
REGIONAL
SOUTH AFRICA
SABS
SANAS
NMI
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International practice in metrology

• Internationally metrology (the science of
  measurement) is based on an intergovernmental
  agreement first signed in 1875 as the Metre
  Convention. The Convention founded the Bureau
  International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) which
  serves as an international laboratory and
  secretariat, facilitating metrological
  collaboration among its member nations.
• The BIPM was established to ensure that all
  national measurement systems use a common system
  of units (SI units), that measurement standards
  are equivalent within specified limits, and that
  laws and regulations relating to metrology are
  harmonised

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International practice in metrology - continue

• The recognition of metrology capabilities
  between national metrology institutes such as the
  NMI are governed through a mutual recognition
  arrangement.
• These MRAs are based on peer and accreditation
  assessments by teams of experts. They assess the
  competence of national metrology institutes and
  their compliance with international codes of best
  practice.

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Key comparisons

• Organization to form families

• Results interpreted to show equivalence
• between anyone of the participants in any
  comparison of the family

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History of Measurement in SA

• Established within the Council for Scientific and
  Industrial Research (CSIR) in 1947
• South Africa acceded to the Metre Convention in
  1964
• In October 1999, the NML and similar bodies from
  38 other countries signed a global mutual
  recognition arrangement regarding their national
  measurement standards and their calibration and
  measurement certificates.
• Measurement Units and National Measurement
  Standards Act, Act 76 of 1973, requires the NML
  maintain national measurement standards.
• The scope of measurement standards has expanded
  dramatically over the years.

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History of National Measurement system

• Regionally the NML is a member of SADCMET (SADC
  Cooperation in Measurement Traceability), the
  regional metrology body of SADC. The NML plays an
  important role in SADCMET.
• The potential exists that the South African
  metrology institute may become the metrology hub
  of SADC, and may assume a leading position in
  metrology in Africa in support of NEPAD.

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Review of SA Measurement System

• The NML is currently a CSIR Centre.
• CSIR is about technology and innovation while the
  NMLs focuses on the establishment and
  maintenance of national measurement standards and
  the demonstration of their comparability to
  international standards and measurements.
• New profile for metrology is necessary to reflect
  its importance as a foundation institution to
  standardisation and accreditation.
• As a national centre of measurement excellence,
  the current profile is not optimal.

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Need for an independent entity

• An independent NMI will enable the entity to
  focus on its core mandate related to measurement,
  will allow for the NMI to be positioned as a
  centre of measurement excellence and will ensure
  direct linkages to the BIPM and international
  peers.

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Need for changing the status of the NMI

• Raising the profile of metrology in South Africa
  in order to reflect its importance as the
  foundation for the entire South African
  measurement system
• Maintaining of the national metrology institute
  as an internationally recognised metrology body
• Enabling the dtis to ensure strategic direction
  and alignment of the NMI and the rest of the
  technical infrastructure i.e. Standards and
  accreditation with national priorities such as
  ASGISA and the Industrial Policy

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The purpose of the Measurement bill

• To establish the National Metrology Institute as
  a public entity.
• To provide a legal framework for the measurement
  units and measurement standards in SA

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Mandate

• The National Metrology Institute is the body in
  South Africa responsible to provide for the use
  of measurement units of the International System
  of Units and certain other measurement units
• designate national measurement standards and for
  keeping and maintaining national measurement
  standards and units and
• disseminate traceability to the South African
  industry

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Process thus far

• FRIDGE Study on Standards, Quality Assurance,
  Accreditation and Metrology (SQAM) completed
  April 2001 - benchmarked against Brazil,
  Australia, UK and Malaysia.
• Cabinet approved project for restructuring of
  Technical Infrastructure on 22 May 2002.
• the dti Policy on Modernising the South African
  Technical Infrastructure approved June 2004.
• Workshops held with government departments and
  industry on policy position July 2004.
• This was supplemented by letters to DGs of
  various departments August 2004.
• Written comments solicited from all stakeholders
  until September 2004.
• Nedlac Task Team concluded report on policy
  proposals October 2004.
• Lawyers appointed to draft bills March 2005

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Process thus far - continue

• Consultation with Nedlac, Institutions and dti
  Legal Directorate on draft bill completed and
  inputs incorporated April 2006.
• Cabinet Committee on Governance and
  Administration on 1 August 2006 recommended the
  approval of the following recommendations by
  Cabinet
• - The introduction of the Measurement Units and
  Measurement Standards Bill (subject to the
  inclusion of a clause clarifying the
  remuneration and conditions of service for the
  Board and staff)
• - The transitional arrangements relating to the
  transfer of the assets and liabilities the
  migration of staff to the new entity
• - The appointment of the current Centre
  Manager as an acting Chief Executive Officer
  until the Board appoints a Chief Executive
  Officer for a specific period
• - process of appointing of a Board and CEO for
  the new entity upon approval of the legislation.

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Parties consulted

• National Treasury has been formally consulted in
  line with the PFMA on the establishment of the
  NMI as a public entity.
•  
• Other stakeholders consulted
• Departments of Labour, Transport, Agriculture,
  Housing, Health, Environmental Affairs and
  Tourism, Minerals and Energy, Science and
  Technology, Local and Provincial Government and
  the Presidency SABS CSIR SANAS Industry and
  other interested parties and Nedlac.
• Further consultations will be done by a Joint
  Committee with the dti, DPSA, National Treasury
  and CSIR as members.
•  
•  
•  

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Personnel and organisational implications

• The Measurement Units and Measurement Standards
  Bill provides for transitional arrangements,
  including the transfer of all staff, as well as
  the transfer of assets and liabilities from the
  CSIR. The Bill also provides for the appointment
  of a Chief Executive Officer and a Board.  
• In the interim, the current Centre Manager, will
  act as Chief Executive Officer.
• The recruitment process for a permanent Chief
  Executive Officer will commence once Cabinet has
  approved the legislation process for the
  establishment of the NMI and a Board has been
  established.
• Cabinet Committee on Governance and
  Administration on 1 August 2006 recommended the
  approval of the abovementioned recommendations by
  Cabinet.

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Financial implications

• The dti makes annual budget allocations for the
  NMI in terms of the MTEF
• The current baseline of R37 million will need to
  be increased to R43 million as from the 2007/2008
  budget cycle in order to provide for additional
  financial implications associated with the
  establishment and restructuring of the NMI as a
  public entity.

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Summary

• In keeping with international trends of metrology
  the current NMI at the CSIR is to be elevated to
  a position that reflect its importance as the
  foundation for the entire South African
  measurement system.
• The National Metrology Laboratory (NML) will be
  re-constituted as a National Metrology Institute
  (NMI), a public entity that is independent from
  the CSIR.
• The NMI will be responsible for the establishment
  of the national measurement standards and
  demonstration of their comparability to
  international standards and measurements.
• An independent NMI will enhance the Technical
  Infrastructure (standardardisation,
  accreditation, quality assurance and metrology
  activities)