Environmental Health

Organogram: The Directorate falls under the Cluster: PHC, Districts and Development, which in turn reports to the Deputy Director-General: Health Service Delivery

Objectives: the Directorate: Environmental Health ensures sustainable safe and healthy environment where South Africans can live, work & recreate through protection of public health and the environment by providing adequate regulatory tools and comprehensive Environmental Health Services.

Functions: The main functions of the Directorate include, inter alia:

• Provide support, training, monitoring & evaluation of Municipal Environmental Health Services
• Administer the Hazardous Substances Act, 1973 (Act 15 of 1973) & relevant sections under the National Health Act, 2003 (Act 61 of 2003)
• Formulate regulatory framework for improved social & living conditions in human settlement
• Administer relevant sections of the International Health Regulations through strengthened port health services
• Cooperate with other Government Departments on Air quality, Water treatment chemicals & Health care waste, Water and Sanitation
• Initiate and coordinate Chemical safety programmes
• Work closely with the National Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism on International Environmental multilateral agreements

Current Programmes:

• Port Health Services
• Hazardous Substances
• Chemical Safety
• Health Care Waste
• Poison Information centre
• Water treatment chemicals
• Health & hygiene
• Pollution & air quality control
• Toxicological evaluation

Multilateral Agreements:

• Stockholm Convention
• Rotterdam Convention
• Basel Convention
• Montreal Protocol
• Kyoto Protocol

International Bodies:

• WHO
• IFCS
• IPCS
• SAICM
• UNEP

Government Departments:

• DWAF
• DEAT
• DoT
• NDA
• DTI
• DoL
• DST
• DPLG
• Dept. of Housing
• DME