Regulatory & Policy

The revised rules would restrict waste exports, including aluminium scrap, to non-OECD nations, exempting some EU candidates, and take effect in 2027.

A spokesperson said McDonald’s Netherlands, subject to a penalty order, informed the inspectorate that it considers its single-use plastics implementation aligned with the legislation’s objectives.

Nine data points must be stored in the QR code: product ID, generic/brand names, manufacturer details, batch number, manufacturing/expiry dates, licence number, and excipients where relevant.

The final phase of the 2021 amendments takes effect Jan 2027, completing the rise from 50% (2023) to 75% (2025) and now 100%.

The Ministry of Ecological Transition’s 4 September decision follows strong local opposition—authorities argued a mandatory system would divert valuable PET and aluminium from municipal recycling, undercutting sorting infrastructure investments.

The rules apply to producers of agrichemicals in plastic packaging (≤1,000L), bale wrap, silage sheet, 16–40kg plastic bags, and woven PP bags over 40kg.

The regulations support South Africa’s circular economy push, with the draft National Waste Management Strategy 2026 targeting 40–60% landfill diversion over the next 5–15 years.

Taxable packaging fell to 37% of 2.97M declared plastic tonnes in 2025-26 (from 41% in 2022-23), with 5,142 registered firms by 13 Aug 2026, per HMRC.

Recommendations: phased legislation, harmonised state/federal rules, enforcement, recycling incentives, and retooling aid for firms and workers.

The classification lets food businesses validate nutritional claims before or after market entry. Accurate information aids regulatory compliance and boosts confidence among regulators and consumers.