Draft regulations propose ban on plastic microbeads in SA
Plastic microbeads, smaller than 5mm, are commonly found in cosmetics, personal care items, pesticides, toiletries and other products.
The regulations — issued under the National Environmental Management Act — propose to eliminate their use by imposing a blanket prohibition with provisions for monitoring, evaluation and penalties for noncompliance, including fines up to R10m or imprisonment for up to 20 years for repeated offences.
It makes provision for existing bead stocks to be phased out over 24 months.
'Plastic microbeads may be small but their impact on our oceans and wildlife is immense,' said forestry, fisheries and environment minister Dion George.
'By banning them we are not only preserving biodiversity but also ensuring a healthier future for generations to come. I urge stakeholders to engage with this process and help shape regulations that make a difference.'
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By banning them, we are not only preserving biodiversity but also ensuring a healthier future for generations to come,' he said. A coalition of civil society organisations, that is involved in advocating for a strong global plastics treaty, has commended the 'bold signal' from the department to South Africa is taking a step towards addressing one of the key drivers of the global plastics crisis, the organisations said. 'By recognising the environmental and health harms of microplastics, like microbeads, the government is demonstrating how to translate global concern into national action. It also provides a clear example of how to tackle both supply and demand pressures that continue to fuel the plastic pollution crisis.' The timing of this ban is significant, coming just as the negotiations on the global plastics treaty are underway in Geneva, Switzerland. The organisations pointed out that plastic microbeads are just one of many sources of microplastics that enter our waterways, oceans and even our bodies. 'Therefore, this is the kind of leadership needed in the global plastics treaty process.' They are urging South Africa to champion legally binding global bans and phase-outs of the most harmful plastics and chemicals of concern. This includes supporting an initial list of product and chemical groups that have been proved to cause significant harm to human health and ecosystems and ensuring the list is strengthened over time. 'Plastic microbeads are part of the initial list proposed by a South Africa should not only support such global measures, the country should lead, they said. 'We already have key policy tools in place nationally, including bans on certain plastic items and mandatory extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes. These measures show that ambitious action is possible and effective.' 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South Africa is open to discussing global measures to phase-out plastic products and chemicals of concern 'but they've been The country should support these global measures and an initial list of products and chemicals as the science is already very clear on their harms. 'This is one of the key measures that we want to see in the treaty. Microbeads are just one part of the bigger picture. We also need to address the chemicals of concern found in plastic materials. 'But we also need to ensure that there is an enabling environment for circular products so we are also urging South Africa to support global product design criteria that will enable a circular economy. These ambitious measures need to be backed by finance,' she said, adding that this is another element that 'we see as an effective mechanism under the treaty'. 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