RFA looks into new Zambian compliance standards

The compliance implications of a new standard implemented by the Zambian authorities for the transportation of flammable liquids is under scrutiny by the Road Freight Association. The RFA is currently comparing the new standard to South Africa’s standards to ensure members are compliant. Zambian authorities implemented the new standard on September 1 this year. While it has primary reference to the transportation of flammable liquids (and thus affects fuel transport), it does apply to all vehicles that are bulk flammable liquid tankers by design. According to Zambian Authorities, the decision to implement the new measure is based on protecting life, property and road infrastructure while guarding against environmental pollution in Zambia and was necessitated by increased road traffic accidents, some of them involving fuel tankers, both local and foreign. Gavin Kelly, spokesman for the Road Freight Association, said the association was comparing the standard to the SABS1518 to establish whether tankers operated by South African operators (built and registered in South Africa) were either fully compliant with the ZS371 (the new Zambian standard) or whether there could be areas where the two standards did not complement one another. “Looking at the document we received, their new standard is based on an old South African standard that was withdrawn some time ago,” he said. “We are in the process of looking at it and seeing where the differences in compliance are and what our members need to do to be compliant in Zambia.” But, said Kelly, it was an extremely difficult situation as the standard was old. “This is the standard that applied in South Africa in 1993. It is now 2012 so much has changed and therefore most of our tankers today won’t comply with that any more because they have moved on. There are newer ways of manufacturing and safety that are now adhered to – which this old standard does not take into account.” In the meantime South African fuel tankers being inspected in Zambia are being forced to fork out $190 per inspection, said Kelly, following the implementation of the standard by the Zambians. “Also there are multilateral agreements between countries that accept each others’ roadworthy and design standards. Zambia is now saying they are not doing that and really calling for our operators to go back in time.” Kelly said the RFA had therefore started a lobbying process with CBRTA, Fesarta and the department of transport to enforce the acceptance of domicilium standards and roadworthiness as agreed to in the various multi- or bilateral agreements. CAPTION New standard applies to all vehicles that are bulk flammable liquid tankers by design.