Agent cautions over electrical import documentation

Valid letter of authority is essential THE LOA (letter of authority) that the SA Bureau of Standards (SABS) issues for the importation of many electrical items is not an everlasting, universal licence to import, as many importers seem to mistakenly assume. According to information released to FTW, customs will demand that items being imported comply with the SABS standards for that consignment at the time of clearance This certification takes the form of a "Letter of Authority" issued by the bureau. Consignments that arrive without a valid LOA will neither be cleared nor delivered. And LOAs are specific only to the makes/models stipulated on them and are not interchangeable. LOAs also do not have unlimited validity but are only valid for imports cleared within 12-months of the date of issue. The individual LOAs must be renewed annually and electrical importers are urged to check the issue dates of their LOAs and to make application for renewals in plenty of time.