Draft Amendents to the regulations and notices regarding Extended Producer Responsibility in relation to electrical and electronic equipment products, the lighting sector and the paper, packaging and some single use products have been published for public consultation.

The Notice was published in Government Gazette 48527 (Notice No. 3388) by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment on 5 May 2023 in terms of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act.

The proposed amendments seek to provide technical clarifications to the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations, 2020, and the associated Notices to eliminate any ambiguity or uncertainty to the regulated industry and affected stakeholders.

The proposed amendments cover, amongst others, definitions, reporting requirements and the recognition and inclusion of the Returnable Packaging Scheme or Deposit Refund System as part of the EPR Scheme. It also strengthens enforcement and compliance of the Regulations to hold producers liable for the achievement of the published targets and to curb free riders, request for the exemption of the pharmaceutical sector from EPR, the review of the financial arrangements in Regulation 7 and the deletion of redundant clauses in the Regulations.

Source: Government of South Africa