Packaging rule · South Africa · EPR
Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations and paper and packaging scheme
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) rule covering all packaging in South Africa, set by Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. Applies since 5 May 2021.
The rule
Recorded from the official source named below. Rates and dates are as the source states them on the date it was consulted.
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Authority
- Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
- Rule type
- EPR
- Materials
- All packaging
- Status
- In force Enacted
- Adopted or published
- 5 November 2020
- Applies from
- 5 May 2021
From the source“has postponed the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations to 5 May 2021”
Official source SA Government: amendment of regulations and notices regarding EPROfficial (government or regulator) · consulted 13 October 2026
Key dates
Adopted or published 5 years ago
Applies from 5 years ago
Source consulted by the SPI team today
What it means
SPI analysis Our reading of the official source above. Not legal advice; always rely on the official text.
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.
In practice
South Africa's EPR Regulations and the scheme for paper, packaging and some single-use products require producers to register with the Department and either run their own EPR scheme or join a producer responsibility organisation that does so. Implementation began on 5 May 2021, and existing producers and PROs had to register before 5 November 2021. Brand owners and importers selling packaged goods in South Africa are the main parties affected, with converters touched through scheme fees and data requests.
Who is in scope
- Producers in the paper, packaging and some single-use product sectors, alongside electrical and electronic equipment and lighting
- Producer responsibility organisations preparing and submitting EPR schemes
Who is not
- The official statement reviewed does not mention exemptions; the regulation text was not reviewed
What to do and by when
- NowCheck registration with the Department for all South African entities placing packaging on the market.
- NowReview membership of a PRO for each packaging material and the fees it charges.
- NowMap packaging tonnage by material to support scheme reporting.
Related rules
- PR-KE-002 Sustainable Waste Management (EPR) Regulations, 2024
Kenya's EPR regulations, a regional comparator using PROs. - PR-CL-001 Packaging collection and recovery targets under Ley REP (DS 12/2020)
Chile's packaging EPR with collective management systems. - PR-GB-002 UK packaging EPR regulations (pEPR) 2024
UK packaging EPR with producer registration and fees. - PR-VN-001 Decree 110/2026/ND-CP on producer and importer recycling and waste treatment responsibility
Viet Nam EPR decree with packaging recycling rates.
Where the record is unclear
- SPI has not yet reviewed the texts of GN 1184 and GN 1187, including targets, definitions and any exemptions.
- Later amendments to the regulations or the paper and packaging notice after January 2021 were not checked.
Sources for this note
- SA Government: Environment, Forestry and Fisheries on amendment of regulations and notices regarding EPR (19 January 2021) Consulted 13 October 2026
Note written by the SPI team on 13 October 2026.
Where it sits in the tracker
- One of 1 packaging rules we track in South Africa, of which 1 are EPR rules.
- In all, 25 EPR rules are tracked across 15 jurisdictions. Compare them below
Company profiles that map to this rule
Companies whose SPI profile lists this rule in its regulatory exposure, based on where they report selling. Not company-reported.
Change history
Sourced: an SPI analyst recorded the facts above from the official source. A second SPI team member has not re-checked it yet. Every change is logged here.
Changed: rate note
Verified by a second SPI team member
Added to the tracker
Spotted an error? Write to sales@strategicpackaginginsights.com quoting PR-ZA-001 and the source. Corrections are logged in this history.
EPR rules elsewhere
The same type of rule for the same materials in other jurisdictions, by the date it applies.
Ask the SPI team
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- Q1
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We map each market's EPR, tax, ban, recycled-content, labelling and deposit rules against your materials and formats, and show which are in force, adopted or only proposed.
- Q2
What could EPR fees and plastic taxes cost us next year?
We apply published fee tables and tax rates to your tonnages and recycled content, and show the result as scenarios with every rate sourced.
- Q3
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