ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1994

The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs has published the National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Bill 2011, for public comment. Members of the public are invited to submit to the Minister, written comments within 30 days of the publication of the notice in the Government Gazette (i.e. 26 September 2011). The Bill makes provision for the amendment of inter alia the following Acts namely:

- National Environmental Management Act, 107 of 1998;
- National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 10 of 2004; and
- National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 39 of 2004.

See Government Notice No. 586 in Government Gazette No. 34558 of 26 August 2011.

National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003

The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs published a notice inviting interested persons or parties to make nominations of suitable persons to be appointed to serve as members of the Board of South African National Parks. Nominations must be in writing, supported by personal details of the nominee, particulars of the nominee's qualifications or experience and any other relevant information, and accompanied by the letter of acceptance of the nominee or nominees as well as copies of clearly typed Curriculum Vitae and certified qualifications or experience. Nomination forms should reach the Department by 12:00 o­n 30 September 2011. See Government Notice No. 516 in Government Gazette No. 34493 of 5 August 2011.

National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 39 of 2004

The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs intends to establish under section 9(1) of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act the proposed national ambient air quality standard for particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 micron metre (PM2.5). The proposed national ambient air quality standard is set out in the Schedule to the Notice. Members of the public are invited to submit written representations o­n tor objections to the Minister within 30 days of publication of this notice. (i.e. o­n or before 5 September 2011). See Government Notice No. 515 in Government Gazette No. 34493 of 5 August 2011.

HEALTH AND SAFETY LEGISLATION

Medicines and Related Substances Act, 101 of 1965

The Minister of Health, in terms of the Regulations Relating to a Transparent Pricing System for Medicines and Scheduled Substances, intends to introduce a zero increase o­n the Single Exit Price (SEP) for the year 2012 given that the previous year yielded a negative increase. Interested persons are invited to submit substantiated comments and representations o­n the Minister's intended determination, o­n a CD and hard copy within three months from the date of publication of this notice (i.e. o­n or before 21 November 2011). See Government Notice No. 669 of Government Gazette No. 34537 of 19 August 2011.

National Health Act 61 of 2003

The Minister of Health intends to make regulations relating to categories of Hospitals as set out in the Schedule to the Notice. Interested persons are invited to submit any substantiated comments or representations o­n the proposed regulations to the Director-General: Health, within a period of two months from the date of publication of this notice (i.e. o­n or before 11 October 2011). See Government Notice No. 655 of Government Gazette No. 34521 of 12 August 2011.

The Minister of Health intends to determine a policy o­n the Management of Public Hospitals as set out in the Schedule to the Notice. Interested persons are invited to submit any substantiated comments or representations o­n the proposed regulations to the Director-General: Health, within a period of two months from the date of publication of this notice (i.e. o­n or before 11 October 2011). See Government Notice No. 656 of Government Gazette No. 34522 of 12 August 2011.
The Minister of Health intends to determine a policy o­n National Health Insurance as set out in the Schedule to the Notice. Interested persons are invited to submit any substantiated comments or representations o­n the proposed regulations to the Director-General of Health, within a period of two months from the date of publication of this notice (i.e. o­n or before 11 October 2011). See Government Notice No. 657 of Government Gazette No. 34523 of 12 August 2011.

Nursing Act, 33 of 2005

The Minister of Health intends to make regulations relating to the conducting of inquiries into alleged unfitness to practise due to disability or impairment of persons registered in terms of the Nursing Act. Interested persons are invited to submit comments or representations or representations o­n the proposed regulations to the Director-General of Health, within three months from the date of publication of this notice (i.e. o­n or before 3 November 2011). See Government Notice No. 619 of Government Gazette No. 34494 of 5 August 2011.

National Environmental Health Policy

The Department of Health published a draft National Environmental Health Policy for public comment. The Policy aims to serve as a broad guideline for the effective implementation and rendering of environmental health services in South Africa. Interested parties are invited to submit written comments o­n the draft National Environmental Health Policy by no later than 30 September 2011. See Government Notice No. 517 of Government Gazette No. 34499 of 3 August 2011.