Switch to updated standard: Footwear suppliers given time limit to run out old stock

Pretoria, Gauteng, SA – Safety footwear suppliers have until April 2026 to sell stock made to the 2014 edition of SA National Standard (SANS) 20345.

The National Regulator for Compulsory Standards (NRCS) confirmed this at a stakeholder meeting on 11 March.

The SA National Standard (SANS) for safety footwear in South Africa was upgraded in October 2023 with the adoption of ISO 20345:2021 as SANS 20345:2023.

As from April 2024, the NRCS would not accept applications for approval of new types of safety footwear where testing was done in accordance with the 2014 edition of SANS 20245.

All new applications for approval of new types of safety footwear must now comply with SANS 20345:2023 or ISO 20345:2021.

Simon Odendaal, technical specialist in the Chemicals, Mechanical & Materials division of the NRCS, said that holders of already approved types of safety footwear have until April 2026 for the following:
– Deplete stocks of safety footwear manufactured in accordance with old requirements of SANS 20345:2014;
– To meet new and revised requirements of SANS 20345:2023 for safety footwear types originally approved in accordance with 2014 edition of SANS 20345;
– To make applications for modification or extension of approval for such safety footwear types;
– NRCS Chemicals, Mechanical & Materials Division (CMM) to process such applications for modification or extension of approval.

• Testing can be limited to new and revised requirements of SANS 20345:2023. No need to have already approved types of safety footwear tested against all requirements of SANS 20345:2023.

The NRCS approved 607 styles of safety footwear between 2014 and 2024 in terms of SANS 20345:2014.
Between April and December last year, it approved 35 styles in terms of SANS 20345:2023.