New environmental legislation in 2011
February 17th, 2011
New South African health and environment legislation in 2011, include provisions for air quality, pesticide contamination, and dangerous goods labeling.
Pesticides management
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries have published a Pesticide Management Policy, under authority of the Fertilisers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 36 of 1947, in Government Gazette 33899 of 24 December 2010.
The new policy aims in part at pesticide contamination management, protection of human health, and promotion of a non toxic environment, including obligations under international agreements, labelling, monitoring programmes, agricultural waste disposal, container management, alternative products, and public rights to access pesticides information.
Dangerous goods standard for comment
A new standard on hazardous goods labeling, titled SANS 10232-3; Transport of Dangerous Goods and emergency information systems, is open for public comment before 30 March 2011. Visit a SABS post at www.sabs.co.za/index.php?page=standardsdraft
Ozone depleters phased out
The Department of Environmental Affairs have given notice of the intention under paragraphs (a) (e) (k) and (p) of Section 53 of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 39 of 2004, in Government Gazette 33925 of 14 January 2011, to phase out ozone depleting substances in South Africa.
The Chemicals and Allied Industries Association is collating comments on the proposed provisions, received before 28 February 2011, to submit to the DEA.
Climate change response
The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) had published a draft National Climate Change Response Green Paper in late November in 2010. Copies can be downloaded from www.environment.gov.za.
Following a period of consultation in early 2011, a White Paper on the national climate change response is anticipated in mid 2011. The Chemicals and Allied Industries Association, CAIA, has submitted comprehensive comment through Business Unity SA, BUSA.
Cipro deadline extended
The SA state’s corporate registry, Cipro has published a list of companies and close corporations that have failed to lodge annual contact detail updates, on the Cipro website, under ‘News and Events/Information Library/CIPRO Publications, at http://www.cipro.gov.za/info_library/cip_pub.asp.
The deadline for returns was extended to 21 February 2011. Companies and close corporations have to lodge annual updates and pay a fee to Cipro, or face a penalty, and eventual deregistration.
Office hours at Cipro Cape Town and Cipro Pretoria offices were extended to 18:00 on weekdays, up to 21 February 2011, for processing annual returns.
Queries regarding annual returns or restorations are directed to annualreturns@cipro.gov.za or a Cipro call centre at 086 184 3384.
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