Tracker
Packaging Regulation in South Africa
Every packaging rule in South Africa that we have sourced so far: EPR, taxes, bans, recycled-content and reuse targets, labelling and deposit return, with dates, rates and the official text.
By Thomas Müller
Latest source consulted 12 October 2026
Status: Live 79 rules sourced from official texts; 0 re-checked by a second analyst so far. How this tracker works
In short
As of 12 October 2026, Strategic Packaging Insights tracks 1 packaging rule in South Africa: 1 in force and 0 adopted but not yet applying. Extended producer responsibility for packaging is in force (Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations and paper and packaging scheme).
Key facts
Packaging rules in South Africa at a glance
- Latest change: Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations and paper and packaging scheme (Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, 5 November 2020).
In force now in South Africa
EPR (1)
Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations and paper and packaging scheme
SPI summary EPR Regulations (GN 1184) and the EPR scheme for paper, packaging and some single-use products (GN 1187) were published on 5 November 2020; implementation was postponed to 5 May 2021.
From the source “has postponed the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations to 5 May 2021”
Materials: All packaging
Source consulted 12 Oct 2026 · History (1)
- Added
Timeline of packaging rules in South Africa
| Adopted | Rule | Type | Status | Applies from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Nov 2020 | Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations and paper and packaging scheme | EPR | In force | 5 May 2021 |
How South Africa compares
| Jurisdiction | Rules | In force | EPR | Taxes | Bans | Next deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Austria | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Brazil | 1 | 1 | Yes | 0 | 0 | — |
| Canada | 6 | 6 | Yes | 0 | 2 | — |
| Chile | 1 | 1 | Yes | 0 | 0 | — |
| China | 3 | 3 | — | 0 | 1 | — |
| Colombia | 2 | 2 | Yes | 0 | 1 | — |
| European Union | 18 | 6 | — | 1 | 1 | 12 Aug 2028 |
| France | 3 | 3 | — | 0 | 1 | — |
| Germany | 2 | 2 | Yes | 0 | 0 | — |
| India | 4 | 4 | Yes | 0 | 1 | — |
| Indonesia | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ireland | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Japan | 2 | 2 | Yes | 0 | 0 | — |
| Kenya | 2 | 2 | Yes | 0 | 1 | — |
| New Zealand | 2 | 1 | — | 0 | 1 | — |
| Philippines | 1 | 1 | Yes | 0 | 0 | — |
| Poland | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Portugal | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| South Africa | 1 | 1 | Yes | 0 | 0 | — |
| Spain | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 0 | — |
| United Arab Emirates | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 1 | — |
| United Kingdom | 7 | 5 | Yes | 1 | 2 | 1 Oct 2027 |
| United States | 13 | 9 | Yes | 0 | 3 | — |
| Vietnam | 1 | 1 | Yes | 0 | 0 | — |
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About this tracker
- Purpose
- To show packaging teams which rules on packaging and packaging waste apply where, from when, and at what rate, with the official text one click away.
- Coverage
- 79 rules in 25 jurisdictions: extended producer responsibility, packaging taxes, bans, recycled-content and reuse targets, labelling, deposit return, design and reporting rules. Coverage is growing and is not complete for any jurisdiction.
- Data sources
- Official journals and gazettes, legislatures, ministries, regulators and the bodies that run each scheme. Each rule names its source, links to it and quotes it.
- Methodology
- An analyst finds the rule in its source, records the facts (authority, dates, rate, materials) and copies a short quote. The SPI summary and SPI note are our reading of the source and are labelled. A second analyst can then re-check the rule against the source; it is then marked Verified. Any later change to the facts sends it back to Sourced and is logged in its history.
- Limitations
- Not legal advice. 0 of 79 rules have had a second check so far. Rates and dates can change after the date a source was consulted, and secondary legislation, guidance and local rules may not be listed. Always rely on the official text.
- Access
- Free to read and to download as CSV, with weekly change alerts by e-mail. For a mapping of the rules to your own products and markets, request a briefing.
- Corrections
- Found an error or a missing rule? Write to sales@strategicpackaginginsights.com with the rule ID and the source. Corrections are logged in the rule history.
Questions
Does South Africa have packaging EPR?
Yes. In force: Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations and paper and packaging scheme. Each rule is listed on this page with its authority, dates and official source.
Is there a packaging tax in South Africa?
We have not yet recorded a packaging tax or levy in force in South Africa as of 12 October 2026.
What are the rows in this tracker based on?
Each rule links to the source it was taken from, usually the legal text in an official journal or gazette or the page of the ministry, regulator or agency that runs it, with a short quote from that source. No rule has been re-checked by a second analyst yet, so every rule is marked Sourced. Rules that pass a second check will be marked Verified. Always confirm against the linked text before relying on a rule.
What is the difference between the source quote and the SPI summary?
The quote is copied from the official source. The SPI summary and any SPI note are our own reading of it, written in plain language, and are labelled as such.
What do the statuses mean?
Enacted rules are law: in force (applies now), adopted (passed, but obligations start later), expired or withdrawn. Proposed rules are formal proposals or drafts that are not yet law.
Is this legal advice?
No. The tracker summarises official texts so you can see what applies and when. Always check the linked legal text, or ask us for a compliance briefing for your products and markets.
How current is a row, and what changed?
Each rule shows the date its source was consulted and a history of every change made to it since it was added. New and changed rules are added as we find them; there is no fixed review cycle yet.
Which rules apply to your packs?
Tell us your products, materials and markets. An analyst maps the obligations, fees and deadlines that apply, with every source.