South African National Accreditation Systems (SANAS) is recognised by the South African Government in Act 19 of 2006 as the single National Accreditation Body that gives formal recognition that Laboratories, Certification Bodies, Inspection Bodies, Proficiency Testing Scheme Providers and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) test facilities are competent to carry out specific tasks.

SANAS accreditation certificates are a formal recognition that an organisation is competent to perform specific tasks.

SANAS is responsible for the accreditation of certification bodies for Quality Management Systems and Environmental Management Systems to ISO/IEC 17021(and the IAF interpretation thereof), laboratories (testing and calibration) to ISO/IEC 17025 and medical laboratories to ISO/IEC 17025 and/or ISO 15189 . Inspection Bodies are accredited to ISO/IEC/17020. GLP facilities are inspected for compliance to OECD GLP principles. Verification laboratories are accredited to SANS 10378.

OVERVIEW:

The South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) is the only national body responsible for carrying out accreditation of:

• Calibration laboratories,
• Proficiency testing service providers,
• Producers of certified reference materials,
• Testing laboratories, which includes:
  
  • Medical,
  • Veterinary,
  • Forensic,
  • Pharmaceutical,
  • Chemical and Microbiological,
  • Physical and Mechanical,
  • Blood transfusion services
• Verification laboratories,
• Inspection bodies,
• Certification bodies,
• B-BBEE rating agencies.
  
  
  Any other type of body that may be added to SANAS’ scope of activity.

SANAS is also recognized as the national body to monitor GLP / GCP compliance with the principles adopted by the OECD for GLP facilities or the VICH principles of GCP.

SANAS Responsibility
SANAS is responsible for carrying out accreditations in respect of conformity assessmentas mandated through the Accreditation for Conformity Assessment, Calibration and Good Laboratory Practice Act (Act 19 of 2006).

We are directed and legally represented by a Board of Directors whose members are appointed by the Minister of Trade and Industry.

The Board delegates to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SANAS the responsibility to implement the SANAS policies and objectives. The CEO delegates decisions concerning the granting, extending, suspending or withdrawing of accreditation to the Approval Committee Chairperson.

Department of Trade and Industry South Africa -( DTI)