Persistent Organic Pollutants: Draft Consolidated Regulations Issued
Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The Department of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment has called for public comment on revised draft regulations intended to consolidate the management of persistent organic pollutants. The draft seeks to merge existing regulatory frameworks to better align South Africa with international obligations.
In terms of the 2001 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the proposed regulations merge two separate sets of rules previously gazetted in September 2019 and May 2021. These existing regulations govern the production, distribution, import, export, sale, and use of chemicals listed under the Convention. The consolidation aims to create a single, more effective regulatory instrument for compliance and enforcement.
The draft regulations introduce specific phase-out targets for additional substances. Under the current proposal, the following chemicals must be phased out by 2032:
- Dechlorane plus;
- UV-328; and
- Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid.
The Department has set a deadline of 4 February 2026 for the submission of public comments. This timeline excludes the festive season break to allow for substantive industry and stakeholder input.
What this means for you, your business, or your clients
- For yourself: No direct individual obligations; impact is channelled through the requirement to provide technical compliance advice on chemical management and international treaty obligations.
- For your business: Firms engaged in chemical manufacturing or industrial processing must audit their use of Dechlorane plus, UV-328, and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid to plan for the proposed 2032 phase-out.
- For your clients: Importers, exporters, and distributors of listed substances must ensure their operations align with the consolidated 2019 and 2021 regulatory requirements and should consider submitting comments on the draft by the 4 February 2026 deadline.
Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/persistent-organic-pollutants-stockholm-convention-regulations-to-be-consolidated