DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY – 2006

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME

PC/NA : Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry (National Assembly)

SC/NCOP : Select Committee : National Council of Provinces

SLA : State law advisers

PRIMARY LEGISLATION

SHORT TITLE	MEMO TO CABINET	SUBMISSION TO SLA	ANTICIPATED DATE OF INTRODUCTION	CURRENT STATUS	LINE MANAGER RESPONSIBLE
National Credit Bill	September, 2004	30 November, 2004	May, 2005	Adopted by PC/NA. Read a second time in NA on 13 Oct 05. Served before SC/NCOP on 19 Oct 05.	Ms Astrid Ludin
Interim Companies Amendment Bill			March, 2006	Consultation on the draft Bill	Ms Astrid Ludin
Consumer Protection Bill			July, 2006	Draft Bill	Ms Astrid Ludin
Enterprise Development Bill			August, 2006	Research and drafting	Mr Tshediso Matona
Intellectual Property Amendment Bill			September 2006	Finalisation of draft	Ms Astrid Ludin
Sugar Bill			September 2006	Finalisation of draft	Mr Mxolisi Matshamba
Competition Amendment Bill			September 2006	Research and drafting	Ms Astrid Ludin
Lotteries Amendment Bill			September 2006	Research and drafting	Ms Astrid Ludin
Accreditation for Conformity Assessment Bill, 2005			May 2006	Draft Bill	Mr Tshenge Demana
Measurement Units and Measurement Standards Bill, 2005			May 2006	Draft Bill	Mr Tshenge Demana

SUBORDINATE LEGISLATION

TITLE	ANTICIPATED DATE OF PROMULGATION	STATUS	LINE MANAGER
Regulations under Co-operatives Act, 2005	February, 2006	Drafting	Mr Lionel October
Regulations under the National Credit Act, 2006	March, 2006	Preliminary consideration	Ms Astrid Ludin

Annexure A

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE & INDUSTRY LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME FOR 2006

1. NATIONAL CREDIT BILL

New legislation replacing the Credit Agreements Act, the Usury Act and aspects of the Alienation of Land Act that will comprehensively regulate all consumer credit transactions.

2. INTERIM COMPANIES AMENDMENT BILL

The Bill deals with financial reporting standards, both the imposition of standards and the infrastructure necessary to give effect to it, and accounting standards.

3. CONSUMER PROTECTION BILL

The Bill seeks to provide a comprehensive framework for consumer protection in South Africa by consolidating the fragmented provisions of various laws providing for the rights and obligations of consumers in the marketplace. It further deals with the regulation of the industry and sets out effective enforcement mechanisms and guiding principles for the conduct of all market participants.

4. ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT BILL

To align the dti financial incentives with the requirements of a changing economy.

5. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AMENDMENT BILL

The Amendment Bill seeks to give effect to the provisions of international treaties, conventions, protocols etc. that South Africa has acceded to in the sphere of intellectual property law. It will consolidate all consequential amendments to intellectual property legislation pursuant to the ratification of the relevant international instruments.

6. SUGAR BILL

To consolidate and amend the laws relating to the Sugar Industry; and to provide for matters incidental thereto.

7. COMPETITION AMENDMENT BILL

The Amendment Bill seeks to strengthen certain provisions of the Competition Act, so as to enable the competition authorities to deal with anti-competitive price strategies by firms and to address the levels of concentration inherited from the competition dispensation of the past.

8. LOTTERIES AMENDMENT BILL

The Amendment Bill seeks to address a number of issues pertaining to the distribution of lotteries funds. It further seeks to clarify or to review the roles and accountability of the various institutions established under the Act.

9. ACCREDITATION FOR CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT BILL, 2005

The purpose of the Bill is to provide an internationally recognised and effective accreditation and monitoring system for South Africa by –

establishing SANAS as a public entity;

recognising SANAS as the only accreditation body in South Africa accrediting laboratories, certification bodies and inspection bodies.

10. MEASUREMENT UNITS AND MEASUREMENT STANDARDS BILL, 2005

To provide for the use of measurement units of the International System of Units and certain other measurement units; for the designation of national measurement standards; for keeping and maintaining national measurement standards and units; for the establishment, powers and functions of the National Metrology Institute; and to provide for matters connected therewith.