Medical products are among those on a list of items banned in terms of regulations for the management of mercury in South Africa, which have been gazetted by Environmental Affairs Minister Dion George and will come into effect from April 2025.
The regulations restrict the manufacture, import, and export of specific mercury-added products over a three-year period. Some products will be banned from 1 April this year, while others must be phased out by April 2027.
MyBroadband reports that the regulations were first issued in draft form for public comment in July 2022. The final regulations were gazetted last week.
The latest regulations issued by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment tackle several classes of products based on their mercury content, with the threat of huge fines and even imprisonment for offenders.
Among the products listed are certain cosmetics, pesticides, biocides, and topical antiseptics, as well as barometers, hygrometers, manometers, thermometers and sphygmomanometers (blood pressure monitors).
In addition, the regulations details measures to phase out the use of dental amalgam, including discouraging insurance policies from favouring dental amalgam over mercury-free dental restoration.
Ashanti Mbanga, project manager for SANEDI’s appliance standards and labelling programme, said exposure to high amounts of mercury can lead to long-term and sometimes permanent neurological and behavioural disorders.
“Mercury is extremely harmful to the environment, and … harms the health of people living in those environments,” she said.
In light of these concerns, the UN Environment Programme had created the Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2013.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Skin-lightening cream puts woman in a coma
Toxic metals, including lead, found in tampons – US study