ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY AND FOODSTUFFS LEGAL UPDATE REPORT
(SOUTH AFRICA) July 2025
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Monthly SHE and Foodstuffs Legal Newsletter of what happened in July 2025
Dear Clients,
Below please find a summary of selected relevant environmental, health and safety and foodstuffs legal developments that took place during 1 and 31 July 2025.
NATIONAL LEGISLATION
ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION
1) Merchant Shipping Act
· Draft Merchant Shipping (Construction and Equipment on Fishing Vessels of 24 Metres in Length and Over and Construction and Equipment on Fishing Vessels of Less Than 24 Meters, and Fisher Labour Welfare) Regulations
Detailed Draft Regulations were published for public comment. Should they enter into force they will repeal the following:
· Merchant Shipping (Seafarer Recruitment and Placement) Regulations, GN R 986 of 2017
· Merchant Shipping (Seafarer Compensation) Regulations, GN R1654 of 1998
· Provisions Regulations, GN R 896 of 1961
· Distressed Seamen’s Regulations, GN R 895 of 1961
· Bedding, Towels, Mess Utensils and Other Articles for Personal Use Regulations, GN R 897 of 1961
· Seamen’s Welfare Regulations, GN R 898 of 1961
· Merchant Shipping (Seamen’s Documents) Regulations, GN R 432 of 2000.
2) Integrated Coastal Management Act
· Draft Regulations for the Environmental Management of Offshore Ship-to-Ship Transfer
Draft Regulations were published for public comment.
3) Climate Change Act
· Draft Regulations on the Administration and Operation of the Presidential Climate Commission
Draft Regulations were brought out for comment. Their purpose is to provide for the administration and operation of the Presidential Climate Commission and its committees to ensure the achievement of its objective, functions, and responsibilities. The draft Regulations set out the legal parameters within which the Presidential Climate Commission must operate as it carries out its mandate and performs its functions. No action is required from companies.
HEALTH AND SAFETY LEGISLATION
4) Railway Safety Act
This Act entered into force on 1 August 2025 except for sections 4, 34, 35, 38, 48, 50,51, 52, 54, 55, 56, 62, 64, 65 and 68.
The National Railway Safety Regulator Act, 2002, was repealed on the same date.
5) Perishable Products Export Control Act
· Regulations relating to the Export of Perishable Products
These new Regulations replace the 1984 Regulations (GN R 917 of 4 May 1984).
6) Animals Protection Act
· Draft Regulations for the Exportation of Live Animals by Sea
Draft Regulations were published for public comment.
7) Mine Health and Safety Act
· Guidance note for the Prevention and Management of Non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health Disorders in the South Africa Mining Industry
Guidance Notes were published.
8) Agricultural Product Standards Act
· Regulations relating to Meat Analogues intended for sale in the Republic of South Africa
These new Regulations deal with the sale of meat analogues. They will, however, only enter into force on 18 July 2026.
PROVINCIAL LEGISLATION
No relevant provincial legislation was published this month.
MUNICIPAL LEGISLATION
9) Gert Sibande District Municipality
New by-laws were passed by the municipality:
· Noise Control By-laws (these replace the 2014 by-laws)
· Waste Management By-law (while not expressly stating so, presumably the 2017 by-laws are repealed)
· Municipal Health By-law (while not expressly stating so, presumably the 2014 by-laws are repealed)
· Air Quality Management By-law (while not expressly stating so, presumably the 2014 by-laws are repealed). The contents is, in any event, different to the old by-law.
10) Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality
The municipality published the following by-laws:
· Municipal Health By-law (this replaces the 2012 by-law)
· Air Quality Management By-law (this will, however, only enter into force on a date to be published in the Provincial Gazette). Once so, it will repeal the 2012 Air Quality Management By-law as well as the 2012 Noise Control By-law.
· Draft Fire Services By-law.
11) Namakwa District Municipality
The following new by-laws were adopted and/or amended:
· Fire Services By-law
· Air Pollution Control By-law
· Environmental Health By-law.
12) Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma Local Municipality
Fire Fighting By-laws were passed.
13) Stellenbosch Local Municipality
The municipality published a Nature Areas By-law. This governs nature reserves within the municipal area.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Kind regards
MARK DITTKE