NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT, 107 OF 1998: CONSULTATION ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL REGULATIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF MERCURY IN SOUTH AFRICA

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT, 107 OF 1998: CONSULTATION ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL REGULATIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF MERCURY IN SOUTH AFRICA

Notice Title: National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 (“NEMA”): Consultation on the draft National Regulations for the Management of Mercury in South Africa

Government Notice: GN 3189 in GG 48292 on 24 March 2023

Commencing date: Comments to be submitted by 24 April 2023

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (“the Minister”) published the National Regulations for the Management of Mercury in South Africa (“the Regulations”), developed in terms of section 25(3), read with section 47(1) of the NEMA, for public comments.

The draft Regulations are intended to manage and regulate mercury in South Africa, and to domesticate the Minamata Convention on Mercury (“the Convention”), of which South Africa is a party and which was ratified in 2019.

The objectives of the draft Regulations are in line with the objectives of the Convention. The purpose of the draft Regulations is:

  • to eliminate the anthropogenic releases of mercury,
  • to manage processes releasing mercury into the environment,
  • to phase out mercury added products,
  • to phase down dental amalgam, and
  • to regulate mercury storage facilities, including mercury added products as listed on the annexures of the Minamata Convention.

Members of the public are invited to submit written comments and inputs on or before 24 April 2023. For a copy of the Government Gazette Notice click here.

For more information or assistance please contact Jan Nel at jan@shangoni.co.za

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