The Southern African Development Community Accreditation Services (SADCAS) is a multi-economy accreditation body serving the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Established to ensure that conformity assessment bodies such as testing and calibration laboratories, certification bodies, and inspection bodies within the SADC region meet international standards of competence and reliability, SADCAS plays a critical role in enhancing trade, improving product quality and safety, and promoting economic development across Southern African nations.

Within the SADC region only South Africa and Mauritius have national accreditation bodies. The remaining 13 countries namely: Angola; Botswana; Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); Lesotho; Madagascar; Malawi; Mozambique; Namibia; Seychelles; Eswatini (ex Swaziland); Tanzania; Zambia; and Zimbabwe do not have national accreditation bodies hence serviced by SADCAS.

SADCAS's mission revolves around providing accreditation services that are impartial and of international standard. This accreditation facilitates the mutual recognition of test results and certifications across national borders, reducing technical barriers to trade and enabling SADC member states to access wider markets both regionally and globally. The services provided by SADCAS are essential for ensuring that products conform to acceptable standards, thus protecting the health and safety of the public and the environment.

Operating under the framework of international accreditation cooperation, SADCAS is a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), ILAC and IAF. This membership ensures that SADCAS’s accreditation processes align with global best practices, enhancing the international credibility of certificates and test results issued within the SADC region.

For businesses and stakeholders seeking to understand more about SADCAS’s accreditation services and its impact on trade and industry within the Southern African region, detailed information can be found on their official website.