ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY AND FOODSTUFFS LEGAL UPDATE REPORT (SOUTH AFRICA) February 2025                                    

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Monthly SHE and Foodstuffs Legal Newsletter of what happened in February 2025

 

Dear Clients,

Below please find a summary of selected relevant environmental, health and safety and foodstuffs legal developments that took place during February 2025.

 

NATIONAL LEGISLATION

ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

1) National Environmental Management Act

  • Regulations for the Management of Mercury in South Africa

These new Regulations were published on 6 February 2025 but were subsequently withdrawn on 24 February 2025 as it appears that they were never tabled in Parliament.

Once in force (whenever that may be (if at all), and in what form) their intended aim is to manage the use and phasing-out of mercury (although some exceptions will probably remain).

 

2) Air Quality Act

  • Notice of publication of the 9th National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report for the Republic of South Africa

This report was published by the government and forms part of its international obligations.

 

3) Waste Act

  • Regulations regarding the Control of the Import or Export of Waste

These Regulations were originally brought out in January 2019 but did not enter into force. Various amendments were now made, and which were declared as being effective as of 6 February 2025.

The Regulations themselves, however, are still not in force.

 

4) Marine Living Resources Act

  • Regulations for the Protection of Wild Abalone, 2008 – Draft amendments

Draft amendments were published for public comment.

 

5) Integrated Coastal Management Act

  • Draft Regulations for the Environmental Management of Offshore Bunkering

These draft Regulations were published for public comments. A copy was sent to clients in the maritime industry.

 

 

PROVINCIAL LEGISLATION

No relevant provincial legislation was published this month.

 

 

MUNICIPAL LEGISLATION

6) eThekwini Municipality

A new Business Licensing By-law was published which repealed all other earlier by-laws dealing with this topic.

 

7) Alfred Duma Local Municipality

The Building Control By-law was published.

 

8) Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality

The municipality published the Electricity By-law.

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Kind regards

MARK DITTKE