12 December 2006
Ms Pamela Yako, Director-General of the Department of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism today held a media briefing at the Sandton Convention Centre on
several aspects of the department's law reform process.
The briefing focused on the Waste Management Bill and Biodiversity Act
Regulations namely, Threatened or Protected Species Regulations.
The legislations and regulations were approved by the cabinet on Wednesday,
6 December and Thursday, 7 December 2006 by Cabinet and the Minister of
Environmental Affairs and Tourism with his provincial counterparts,
respectively.
Threatened or protected species regulations
�The key objectives of the Threatened or Protected Species regulations
(TOPS) are:
1. establishment of a permit system for nationally listed threatened or
protected species
2. appointment of issuing authorities and consideration and decision of
applications by issuing authorities
3. set out permits and permit conditions, including circumstances in which
permit application must be refused and cancellation of renewal of permits
4. registration of captive breeding operations, nurseries, scientific
institutions, sanctuaries and rehabilitation facilities
5. new registrations, authority responsible for registration, amendment and
cancellation of registration certificate
6. implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species (CITES) including Management and Scientific Authorities.
The regulations have been submitted to the State law Advisor for
consideration and the aim is to promulgate in March / April 2007.
Draft regulations on bio-prospecting, access and benefit sharing
Over the years, there has not been a national legislation to regulate
Bio-prospecting on indigenous biological resources in South Africa. The absence
of such legislation has resulted in loss of rewards and benefits to local
communities and loss of indigenous biological resources. The draft
bio-prospecting regulations intend to provide a national framework for
collaborating between users and providers of indigenous biological resources,
while recognising the traditional knowledge associated with bio�prospecting.
The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism will publish the draft
regulations for comment in January 2007, for a period of two months.
Draft National Environmental Management: Waste Management Bill
Presentation
"The Waste Management Bill aims to reform law regulating waste management in
order to protect the health and the environment by providing reasonable
measures for the prevention of pollution and ecological degradation," said Ms
Yako. Cabinet has approved publication for comment on 6 December 2006. The Bill
will be gazetted for public comment over a period of 90 days.
For more information contact:
Mr Blessing Manale
Acting Chief Director: Communications
Cell: 083 381 2939
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
12 December 2006
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (http://www.deat.gov.za)
