The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition published regulations relating to the selling and distribution of products via e-commerce platforms on 14 May 2020.
In summary:
- all products, with the exception of alcohol and tobacco products, may be sold via e-commerce and delivered via courier services;
- all OHS regulations, as determined by the Department of Employment and Health, must be adhered to;
- retailers must give prominence to products manufactured in South Africa;
- when packaging goods, retailers must provide written guidelines for customers on how to safely disinfect their goods before use;
- retailers must put in place collection protocols to ensure that adequate social distancing is maintained by courier- or delivery service personnel when collecting goods from a warehouse or depot;
- all goods must be sanitised, in line with the guidelines published by the National Department of Health, before leaving the warehouse or depot;
- all courier- and delivery personnel must have their own hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes, which must be replenished daily;
- courier- and delivery personnel must wear a cloth face mask that covers the nose and mouth when delivering goods to customers;
- courier- and delivery personnel must maintain at least one and a half metres distance from other courier or delivery personnel, when collecting goods for delivery, and customers when delivering goods;
- courier- and delivery service personnel may not enter the home of a customer if such customer, and any other residents within the immediate vicinity, are not wearing a cloth face mask or a homemade item that covers the nose and mouth;
- employees may not share face masks, equipment, stationery, utensils or similar items;
- designated and adequately trained health and safety officers must take each employee’s temperature using appropriate equipment or instruments at the start of a shift and every four hours after the shift commences; and
- records of the temperatures of each employee must be kept and any employee whose temperature is 37,5 degrees or above should immediately be moved to an isolated observation room for a second measurement. If the second test measurement also exceeds 37,5 degrees, the employee must be returned home for self-quarantine, provided with a surgical mask and not be permitted to enter or stay on the premises.
