New SABS LED Quality Standards Come Into Effect March 2025

The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has published updated LED lighting standards that will become mandatory for all LED products sold in South Africa from March 1, 2025.

Key Changes

SANS 62717-2025 introduces stricter requirements for:

Minimum Performance Standards:

• Efficacy: 100 lumens/watt minimum (up from 80 lm/W)
• Lifetime: 25,000 hours with <10% lumen depreciation
• Color consistency: Maximum 3-step MacAdam ellipse variation
• Power factor: 0.9 minimum for residential LEDs

Safety Requirements:

• Enhanced thermal testing for South African climate conditions
• Improved surge protection for unstable grid conditions
• Stricter EMC compliance to reduce interference

Import Impact

An estimated 60% of current LED imports will need redesign or replacement to meet new standards. "This levels the playing field between quality manufacturers and cheap imports," notes David van der Merwe, SABS LED Working Group chair.

Transition Period:

• Existing stock can be sold until August 31, 2025
• All new imports must comply from March 1, 2025
• Retailers must display SABS compliance certificates

Consumer Benefits

The updated standards aim to eliminate the "LED lottery" where consumers struggle to identify quality products. New labeling requirements will clearly display:

• Actual measured lumen output
• Expected lifetime hours
• 5-year performance guarantee backing

Price Impact: Industry analysts predict 15-25% price increases for compliant LEDs, but improved quality should deliver better long-term value.

Enforcement

SABS will conduct quarterly market surveillance testing with penalties up to R500,000 for non-compliant products. Major retailers including Builders Warehouse, Makro, and Game have committed to stocking only certified LEDs from March 2025.