Draft regulations to phase-out the use of persistent organic pollutants

National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No 107 of 1998)

I, Bomo  Edith Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs, hereby  give notice of my intention to make regulations to phase-out the use of Persistent Organic Pollutants, under Section 44(1)(aA), read  with Section 47 of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No 107 of 1998).

The country is a party to an International Convention (Stockholm Convention) on Persistent Organic Pollutants which is a global treaty that protects human health and the environment from chemicals that remain  intact  in the environment  for long periods,  become  widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of humans  and wildlife, and have harmful impacts on human health and environment.  The Stockholm Convention obliges party countries to ban the use of certain persistent organic pollutants listed for elimination by the Conference of Parties convened  by the Secretariat  every second year. The Department  of Environmental Affairs is a Designated National Authority responsible for the implementation of the provisions of the Stockholm Convention.

The overall intention of the draft regulations is to set out the requirements  for the phase-out  of listed Persistent Organic Pollutants, through setting out the timeframes  in which users, producers,  importers  and exporters  must  have  completely phased-out  listed Persistent Organic Pollutants and should also state  when safer alternatives  to listed Persistent Organic Pollutants  will be introduced.

Members of the public are invited to submit to the Minister, within 60 days of publication of this notice in the Gazette, written representations or objections to the following addresses: By post to: The Director-General, Department  of Environmental Affairs, Attention: Mrs Salome Margaret Molefe, Private Bag X447, Pretoria 0001

By hand at: Environment House (Reception), 473 Steve Biko Street, Pretoria, Arcadia 0082

By e-mail: SMolefe@environment.gov.za

Any enquiries relating to this notice may be forwarded to Mrs Salome Margaret Molefe at (012) 399-9845.

Comments received after the closing date may not be considered.