Dec 10, 2010

According to a recent annual report, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) continues to benefit from its participation in ASTM International’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) program.  SABS and ASTM International signed an MOU in 2003. 

The South African Bureau of Standards is the national institution for the promotion and maintenance of standardization and quality in connection with commodities and the rendering of services in South Africa.  Like ASTM, SABS publishes national standards developed through a consensus process in technical committees.  The industry sectors SABS covers are chemicals, electrotechnical, food and health, mechanical and materials, mining and minerals, services and transportation. 

SABS has referenced hundreds of ASTM International standards in South African national standards since 2003.  According to the latest annual report submitted by SABS, more than 250 ASTM standards were referenced in the preparation of South African national standards in the last year alone.  In addition, one ASTM standard was adopted as an identical South African standard, while another ASTM standard, D4065, Standard Practice for Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical Properties: Determination and Report of Procedures, was referenced in South African regulations.

As a benefit of the MOU program, technical experts from South Africa can participate freely as full voting members in the ASTM standards development process. Close to 150 South Africans take advantage of this opportunity, serving on one or more of ASTM’s 141 technical committees.  SABS has also taken part in ASTM technical assistance programs on textiles and gasoline held in South Africa, and Martin J. Kuscus, chief executive officer of SABS, attended an Open House for Sub-Saharan Africa Standards Leaders held at ASTM International headquarters in West Conshohocken, Pa., in 2007.

In 2010, SABS took part in another benefit offered to MOU signatories, the ASTM Standards Expert Program (SEP). Every year, ASTM offers to host three standards experts at its headquarters for a one-month period as part of the SEP program. During their stay, the expert learns about ASTM International and its operations, ASTM technical committees and ASTM’s virtual tools. Percy Malatsi, a project leader in the chemical and mining department at SABS, was one of the standards experts who participated in this year’s program.

Initiated in 2001, ASTM International's MOU program promotes communication between ASTM International and national standards bodies worldwide, fostering awareness of the standardization systems of all parties involved. The purpose of the program is to increase greater worldwide participation in the ASTM standards development process and facilitate the development of national standards that will aid health, safety, and environmental and economic conditions. More information on the MOU program can be found on the ASTM International Web site (www.astm.org/GLOBAL).

ASTM Staff Contact: Teresa Cendrowska, Phone: 610-832-9718; tcendrow@astm.org

Release #8734