You have found the product. The price is good. The supplier looks legitimate. Samples have been approved. The pro forma invoice has arrived. All that remains is to pay the deposit and arrange shipping. This is exactly the point where many South African importers should stop for one final check. Not ... Read More

The Canton Fair can be an exciting place for South African importers. Thousands of products. Hundreds of potential suppliers. New technology, attractive pricing and plenty of manufacturers eager to do business. But there is one question that should be asked before you place an order: Can this product actually be ... Read More

We recently received a short enquiry that simply read: “Robotics and Humanoids certification.” It may well win the prize for maximum regulatory complexity expressed in three words. As humanoid robots, service robots and collaborative robots begin to appear more frequently in South African homes, schools, warehouses and factories, importers and ... Read More

Last week, the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS), together with the South African Police Service and other agencies, carried out high-impact surprise raids in the Johannesburg CBD. Unsafe and non-compliant products were seized, and non-compliant traders were held accountable. While these operations are necessary and welcome, they highlight a ... Read More

An NRCS Letter of Authority is not a permanent licence. It is issued for a fixed period of three years. Once that period ends, the LOA expires and the product is no longer authorised for sale or distribution in South Africa. Many importers only discover this reality when a shipment ... Read More

Most importers focus on obtaining the Letter of Authority (LOA) and ensuring their test reports are in order. Fewer pay the same attention to the ongoing NRCS levy declarations that must be submitted twice every year. These declarations are mandatory, and missing the deadlines can result in penalties, estimated assessments, ... Read More