LOA stands for Letter of Authority. It is a mandatory electrical safety market access certificate issued by South Africa’s NRCS (National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications). It serves as a legal document for customs clearance and sale of regulated products imported into South Africa. In addition to the LOA safety certificate, electrical products require an SABS‑COC certificate for electromagnetic compatibility. The LOA is purely an electronic authorisation certificate; no LOA logo may be printed on the product itself. The SABS Mark is a voluntary South African mark. It requires separate application and factory audit and may only be printed on products after approval. Overseas manufacturers cannot apply for LOA directly. Applications must be submitted by a local South African importer as the certificate holder. Shipments without a valid LOA will be detained and fined by customs.

Product Scope

      Mandatorily regulated products: household appliances, IT information technology equipment, audio-video equipment, handheld power tools, wires and cables, plugs and sockets, luminaires, lithium batteries, toys, gas appliances, etc.

      Product plugs must comply with South African standard SANS 164; supply voltage is AC230V, 50Hz.

Application Process

1. Confirm the applicable South African compulsory VC specification standard for the product.

2. Prepare either an IECEE‑CB certificate together with South African national deviations, or a full safety test report issued by an ILAC‑ISO17025 accredited laboratory.

3. The local South African importer logs into the e‑LOA system to submit the application, uploading the test report, BOM, nameplate drawings, product photos and authorisation documents.

4. NRCS/SABS conducts document review.

5. LOA Letter of Authority is issued upon successful review.

6. Print the LOA certificate number on the product nameplate. Use together with the SABS‑COC EMC certificate for customs clearance and market launch.

Certification Mark

      There is no dedicated logo for printing on products. No LOA graphic may be printed on products or packaging.

      The LOA certificate number must be printed on the nameplate. Nameplate labelling shall be bilingual in English and Afrikaans, and indicate origin “MADE IN CHINA”.

      Additional note: SABS Mark (voluntary mark): blue or red SABS graphic logo. It requires separate application, factory audit and payment for usage rights; it is not mandatory.

Other Information

Technical requirements: AC230V 50Hz, plug conforming to SANS 164‑1 South African large plug

Mandatory status: Compulsory for listed products (dual mandatory requirements: safety LOA + EMC COC)

Certificate validity: 3 years

Factory audit requirement: No factory audit for LOA; factory audit plus annual surveillance required for voluntary SABS Mark certification

Certificate holder requirement: Must be a local South African importer