NEWS
7
NSF International
testing the waters in SA
NSF International is seeking to take on local
markets with NSF/ANSI 61 testing and certification.
By Benjamin Brits
At a presentation entitled ‘Quality for a
safer future, understanding NSF/ANSI 61’
held at the Plastics SA head office in
Midrand, Johannesburg, on 21 February
2019, arranged by the South African
Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association
(SAPPMA), executives from NSF
International presented the standard and
its importance, not only for the plastic
piping industry, but essentially for every
aspect of a water reticulation system
where a plastic component comes into
contact with potable water.
NSF International, established in 1944 and
a worldwide recognised and independent
certification organisation, has 45 business
unit sectors that deal with testing and
certification across multiple industries.
It offers testing, inspection, certification,
training, consulting, standard development,
and applied research services.
Manufacturing, selling, or distributing plastic
products internationally, requires compliance
with international standards, and NSF/
ANSI 61: Drinking Water System Components
– Health Effects, is recognised by most
government agencies in the regulation of
drinking water supplies for companies aiming
to achieve global competitiveness.
The standard, developed by a team of
scientists, industry experts, and key industry
stakeholders, sets health-effects criteria for
many water system components and has
now been recognised and adopted in many
countries around the world.
NSF/ANSI 61 determines what contaminants
may migrate or leach from products into
drinking water. It also confirms if they are
below the maximum levels allowed to be
considered safe. This standard aims to fill
a gap in the testing of products in South
Africa, as primarily, local standards lean more
towards performance requirements.
Companies would attain NSF certification
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
as a mark of distinction, providing their
customers with assurance that their product
does not leach harmful contaminants
into drinking water sources. Strict testing
methodology based on proven results is the
benchmark for these tests.
A discussion was also held between the
presenters — Christian Kurdy (managing
director for the Middle East and Africa), Tarik
Bellahcene (managing director for Europe,
Middle East and Africa), and Vincent Boks
(senior business development manager
for water programmes in Europe, Middle
East and Africa) — and attendees, where
various aspects of the ANSI 61 standard,
testing processes, and the objectives of NSF
International in South Africa were discussed.
Some pressing issues were addressed through
the incorporation of such international standards
into current SANS standards, regulations, and
local by-laws that NSF International aims to
engage on with the necessary bodies such as
local government and the SABS. Testing times
and costings were also discussed through
various practical scenarios.
Testing and certification by an international
body affords companies international
credibility and also ensures:
• Continuous compliance
• Risk management
• Reputation of the brand
• Counterfeit products can be minimised
• Competitiveness is increased on an
international level
• Cost reduction through savings in
production and unnecessary recalls.
Jan Venter, the CEO of SAPPMA, closed
off the presentation and invited all industry
stakeholders to engage with the NSF
International body in achieving international
standards in South Africa. Should you wish
to obtain further information, please contact
SAPPMA or the local NSF International branch
in Cape Town. PA
April 2019 Volume 25 I Number 2