RULES AND PROCEDURES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE (SANC) 1. INTRODUCTION

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1 Revision 1.1: AFSEC South African National Committee RULES AND PROCEDURES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE (SANC) 1.1 BACKGROUND 1. INTRODUCTION The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) recognises as its South African member, the "South African National Committee (SANC) [of the IEC]". IEC Statutes require the South African National Committee to be fully representative of national interests in the IEC's field of activity, which is to promote international co-operation on all questions of standardization and related matters (including conformity assessment) in the fields of electricity, electronics and related technologies. The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), through its Standards Division, assumes overall responsibility for the development of South African National Standards and related publications in all fields, including those covered by the IEC. It is therefore desirable that the work of the two organizations at international and national levels be integrated as far as possible, particularly in the area of standards development. In addition, SABS is a major supplier of conformity assessment services in the electrotechnical field, some of which is provided in terms of IEC Conformity Assessment Systems. Such systems are also open to participation by other service providers, and the structures of SANC must provide for representation from all national service providers participating in IEC Conformity Assessment Systems. In 2008, the African Electrotechnical Standardization Commission (AFSEC) was established. The AFSEC statutes mirror those of IEC, in respect of the representation of stakeholders organized as a national committee. SANC is one of the founding members of AFSEC. 1.2 LINKAGES BETWEEN LOCAL STANDARDIZATION ACTIVITIES AND IEC Standards development: a) South African National Standards and related technical publications are developed in Technical Committees (TCs) and Subcommittees (SCs) of SABS, or in similar committee structures of other bodies formally recognised for this purpose by SABS. Such TCs and SCs exercise this responsibility within their own specified fields of technical activity. To link such activities with the work of the IEC, each TC and SC may register one or more liaisons with relevant IEC TCs and SCs through SANC. For each such liaison, the local TC or SC must appoint a mirror committee (which could also be the whole committee) headed by a Chairperson (known as the MC Chairperson) responsible for dealing with IEC matters in a manner mandated formally by the parent TC or SC. b) A Mirror Committee could represent the interests of one or more IEC TC or SCs. To prevent conflicting inputs from South Africa to IEC, Mirror Committees should match the IEC TC/SC structure (i.e. one Mirror Committee per IEC TC and SC in which South Africa participates). c) Where ISO/IEC joint technical committees are established, the reporting by Mirror Committees for the ISO/IEC JTC structure shall be via an appropriately structured SABS TC to the SABS's ISO Office rather than through the SANC secretariat, unless otherwise agreed between SANC and the SABS. 1/6

2 d) SABS, through its committee processes, elects whether to adopt IEC international standards as South African National Standards or not Conformity assessment: The SANC provides the channel through which participation by all stakeholders in IEC Conformity Assessment systems takes place. Interested parties form representative National Member Body Committees (no more than one per system) with an appropriate neutral secretariat (e.g. SANC Secretariat or trade association) and elect a National Member Body Chairperson. National Member Body Committees interact directly with the relevant IEC Conformity Assessment Schemes and report to SANC. 2. RULES 2.1 SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE a) In order to ensure optimum integration of national, regional and international activities in the field of the IEC and AFSEC, the South African National Committee is constituted as a committee of SABS and as described in this document, on the understanding that it acts independently in its interactions with the IEC and AFSEC. In terms of IEC Statutes the SANC holds the rights to all IEC standards and publications. By agreement with SABS, the SANC cedes these rights to SABS in exchange for providing the secretariat with financial support for membership of IEC and participation in IEC management activities. b) The SABS has accepted to pay the annual membership fee for AFSEC on behalf of SANC, recognising the importance of its prime objective of harmonization in supporting pan-african integration and development. In the event that AFSEC develops its own publications, SANC will cede any rights that it may have to these publications to the SABS. NOTE The AFSEC statutes provide for AFSEC to support the direct costs of members participation in its management activities. 2.2 REPONSIBILITIES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE 1. To provide appropriate input to the IEC and AFSEC at the highest management level, (i.e. the IEC Council and AFSEC Councils), and to comment or vote, as appropriate, on all Council documents. 2. To participate, where appropriate (and where elected) in the management structures of the IEC and AFSEC (i.e. IEC Council Board, Standards Management Board and Conformity Assessment Board and AFSEC management committee and conformity assessment committee). 3. To consider proposals for new areas of technical activity of the IEC and AFSEC, and to inform SABS of such activities. 4. To monitor, at a strategic level, South Africa's participation in the standardization and conformity assessment work of the IEC and AFSEC to ensure efficiency and effectiveness. 5. To invite and host technical meetings of the IEC and AFSEC, where relevant to South Africa, subject to the sourcing of funds. 6. To provide feedback to SABS and other South African stakeholders on developments at strategic level in IEC s and AFSEC s area of interest. 2/6

3 7. To co-ordinate with SABS on participation in other regional fora such as PASC, COPANT, SADC, ARSO, on all matters relevant to the IEC and AFSEC. 8. In order to ensure that participation in SANC activities reflects the demographics of the country, the SANC shall monitor the participation of persons from previously disadvantaged groups in the work of its mirror committees and in the attendance of IEC and AFSEC meetings, and make recommendations where appropriate. On Mirror Committees where such representation is not seen to be happening, the SANC shall, where necessary, look for potential committee members to be mentored. 2.3 MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE a) Core Membership: This shall be made up of up to 8 representatives elected for a 3-year term by the following groups, from their ranks: MC Chairpersons; Conformity Assessment System Member Body (SyMB) Committee Chairpersons; Secretaries based in South Africa of IEC and AFSEC TCs and SCs; Chairpersons and WG convenors based in South Africa of IEC and AFSEC TCs and SCs; Should a core member no longer serve in one of the above capacities, he/she shall be replaced by his/her successor in that capacity for the remainder of the 3-year term b) Co-opted Membership: The core members shall upon election review their joint representivity of stakeholders in the IEC's field of interest in standards development and conformity assessment, and shall co-opt additional individuals knowledgeable of the interests in stakeholder categories not already covered in the core membership. The number of co-opted members shall not cause the total membership of SANC (excluding non-deliberative members) to exceed 15 members. The following non-exclusive list serves as a guide to relevant stakeholder groups: Manufacturers Importers Electricity utilities Electricity distributors Electrical contractors Regulators Government departments Consumers Professionals Academia Standards developing organizations Conformity assessment providers Communication providers The co-opted members shall serve for the remainder of the 3 years until the core membership is re-elected. There is no limit to the number of times an individual may be re-appointed. In soliciting nominations and in selecting nominees, the core members shall take into account the need to move towards an equitable balance in the overall membership with regard to previously disadvantaged groups and gender. c) Non-deliberative members: SANC Secretary and Secretariat. 3/6

4 Manager of the SABS department responsible for most of the standards development work in fields covered by the IEC. SABS officers responsible for standards development work in fields covered by IEC (except where such officers are themselves Secretaries or Chairmen of IEC or AFSEC TCs and SCs, and elected as core members or co-opted) Other persons accompanying members with the prior permission of the Chairperson. Other persons invited by resolution of SANC. SyMB Committee Chairpersons (except where such persons are elected as core members or co-opted) d) Non-performance Should any member be absent without apology for more than two successive meetings, or fail to attend to requests for votes, such an individual s membership automatically lapses. The SANC shall consider co-opting a replacement for the remainder of the original term. 2.4 CHAIRPERSON 1. The SANC shall be chaired by one of its core or co-opted members, elected by such members for a 3-year term of office, with no limit to the number of times an individual is reelected. 2. The Chairperson shall be known as the President of the South African National Committee, and shall, where possible, represent South Africa at IEC and AFSEC Council meetings. 2.5 SECRETARIAT 1. The Secretariat of the SANC is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the affairs of the SANC, for organising meetings of the SANC and ensuring the minutes of meetings are kept, for paying the IEC and AFSEC membership dues, for ensuring payment of dues to relevant IEC conformity assessment schemes, and for all other interactions with the IEC and AFSEC. 2. SABS shall provide the Secretariat and appoint the National Secretary for the SANC. 3. Submission of comments and votes, as well as authorization of delegates to attend meetings (IEC terms this "accreditation") is administered by the SANC Secretariat. Note The SANC cannot finance participation, but finance may, for example, be sourced from contributions by bodies represented on Mirror Committees. 2.6 MEETINGS 1. Meetings shall take place as often as the SANC deems necessary, but there shall be at least one meeting a year in order to prepare for the annual IEC General Meeting and one meeting to report back on the results of the General Meeting. AFSEC business shall normally be discussed at these meetings, but SANC may choose to hold meetings for specific AFSEC business (e.g. in preparation for an AFSEC General Assembly) when deemed necessary. 2. Meetings venues should normally be in Gauteng, and only elsewhere if good attendance can be assured. The facilities of SABS are available as meeting venues. 4/6

5 2.7 ExCo When urgent matters of principle arise between scheduled SANC meetings, and where it is not practical to poll SANC members, the Chairperson and Secretary shall rule on such matters, and report to the following SANC meeting. 2.8 IEC MIRROR COMMITTEES (MCs) To prevent uncoordinated inputs from South Africa to IEC, all comments and voting on technical matters must be sanctioned by the MC Chairperson of a Mirror Committee appointed by the relevant SABS TC/SC. Only delegates formally mandated by the relevant parent SABS TC may attend IEC TC and SC meetings. SANC appoints national experts to Working Groups, Task Forces, Maintenance Teams, etc., of IEC committees. In general, it is intended that the IEC MCs would also deal with any matters arising from the relevant AFSEC TC. In the case that AFSEC establishes a technical committee (TC) where SA has no equivalent mirror committee, SANC would not be a member of that specific AFSEC TC. 2.9 DUTIES OF IEC MIRROR COMMITTEES 1. Voting on new work proposals, via the SANC Secretariat; 2. Ensuring that the parent SABS TC or SC is kept informed of all relevant developments in the IEC TC or SC and where applicable, AFSEC TC; 3. Soliciting local stakeholder views, then commenting and voting on relevant drafts of international standards and proposals from AFSEC for harmonization via the SANC Secretariat; 4. Designating and mandating delegates to participate in IEC and AFSEC TC, SC and WG meetings and to report back on such meetings to the parent SABS TC or SC, or alternatively to submit written input to such IEC and AFSEC meetings in accordance with the IEC Directives on participation; 2.10 SYSTEM MEMBER BODY (SyMB) COMMITTEES To prevent uncoordinated inputs from South Africa to IEC, all comments and voting on scheme matters must be sanctioned by the Chairpersons of the relevant System Member Body Committees. Only delegates formally mandated by System Member Body Committee Chairpersons may attend IEC system meetings, and those of their sub-groups DUTIES OF SYSTEM MEMBER BODY COMMITTEES 1. Participation in the Management Committee of the IEC System as the member body. 2. Soliciting stakeholder views, commenting and voting on documents distributed by the System Management Committee. 3. Selecting and mandating delegations to attend System Management Committee meetings, and reviewing reports from such delegations MEMBERSHIP OF SYSTEM MEMBER BODY COMMITTEES a) The membership of each System Member Body Committee shall comprise one nominated representative from each of the following: all South African certification bodies operating under the IEC System 5/6

6 all South African testing laboratories operating under the IEC System all South African regulators with technical regulations affecting products covered by the IEC System. In addition, industry and trade associations operating in the electrotechnical field with specific interests in products covered by the IEC system shall also be entitled to one nominated representative, and SANC shall be entitled to two nominated representatives, to serve on each System Member Body Committee. b) The SANC shall appoint the Chairperson of each System Member Body Committee from the membership of that Committee. The Chairperson shall serve a term of three years and may be reappointed any number of times. c) The Secretariat of each System Member Body Committee, if not the SANC Secretariat, shall be appointed by the SANC for a period of one year, after which its annual reappointment shall continue until SANC determines otherwise." 3. PROCEDURES 3.1 ELECTION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE (SANC) Towards the end of the last year of the 3-year term of office of the SANC members, the Secretary shall issue a call for nominations for persons qualifying for election to the core membership, and who are willing to stand. If more than 8 nominations are received, the Secretary shall call a meeting of an electoral college comprising all persons eligible for core membership, and conduct an election of 8 core members by secret ballot. The Secretary shall then call a meeting of the core members (which may be held back-toback with the election of core members) in order to identify persons for co-option, subject to their agreement. The Secretary shall then convene the first meeting of the new SANC early in the new year at which the first item of business will be the nomination and election of the SANC Chairperson. ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE RULES AND PROCEDURES AFSEC : African Electrotechnical Standardization Commission ARSO : African Regional Standardization Organization COPANT : Pan American Standards Commission IEC : International Electrotechnical Commission MC : Mirror Committee PASC : Pacific Area Standards Congress SABS : South African Bureau of Standards SADC : Southern African Development Community SANC : South African National Committee SC : Subcommittee SyMB : [Conformity Assessment] System Member Body TC : Technical Committee 6/6