DOH Regulations
As the cosmetic industry in South Africa prepares to transition from a self-regulatory to a regulated one, with the impending Department of Health regulations, the CTFA continues to raise awareness and provide guidelines to the industry to promote compliance in the industry. In August 2016, the DoH published Draft regulations relating to labelling, advertising and composition of cosmetics. The CTFA submitted comments and proposals during the commentary period, which resulted in the redraft of these regulations. The redraft was published on 22 December 2017. The CTFA will once again submit comments where required during the second commentary period.
Environmental Regulations
As we continue to consume the earths’ resources at ever increasing and unsustainable rates, the course of rapidly accelerating trends of environmental degradation and climate change globally become more visible and threaten to undermine existing and future developmental potential and opportunity. As a result of the increased national awareness of these risks and threats to development in South Africa, environmental considerations are being mainstreamed in the development of policies across the economy. These policies have resulted in the promulgation of various acts by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) who manage the environmental sphere such as National Environmental Management Act107of1998 (NEMA), National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (No. 10 of 2004) (NEMBA) and chemicals management.
As the sector and the Department of Environmental Affairs aim to radically transform their approach to environmental protection, while also balancing it with socio- economic development – crucial pillars on which sustainable development rests, the CTFA continues it’s efforts in engaging with DEA and Department of Science and Technology (DST) for industry relevant regulatory requirements.
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Standards and Practices
South African Bureau of Standards (SABS)
The CTFA are committee members of the SABS Technical Committee (TC) 217; which is the responsible committee for the development of National Cosmetic Standards for which there is a market need. Experts from industries, governmental organisations, technical sectors and other interested parties are represented at this committee and meet regularly to update its programme of work, set out mandates for international committee work and to set out new objectives to keep the committee abreast with changing technologies. The technical committee objective is to develop relevant national standards, in order to promote the cosmetics quality, efficacy, safety and to facilitate the cosmetic trade.
South African standards are prepared and maintained to align as far as is practicable with international standards, to enhance South Africa’s trade regionally and internationally.Global products are traded on the basis of technical specifications, and most products traded require proof of compliance with certain technical specifications and safety regulations before being released onto the national and global market.
National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS)
The National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications was established to:
- Protect the health and safety of the public and environment
- Ensure fair trade
- Administer and maintain Compulsory Specifications/ Technical Regulations
- Market surveillance
NRCS Act 5 of 2008) assented to 1 July 2008
Operation under Act commenced on 1 September 2008
Legal Metrology is a unit within the NRCS and is responsible for the implementation of the requirements of the Legal Metrology Act, 2014 (Act 9 of 2014).
The CTFA networks with the NRCS on issues of compliance and is part of TC070 which focuses on Legal Metrology.
A presentation on the functioning and jurisdiction of the NRCS is available to members on the website.
Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa (ASASA)
Since our industry is integrally involved in advertising, the CTFA are non-core members of the Advertising Standards Authority. With the mandate of members, the CTFA puts together the cosmetic sector code which is annually updated to ensure relevance and international alignment in our continually changing industry. This code is available for members on request.
