Liquor License
Image By Philip Meech, One Red Eye.
lined m a tre S for eed AN y r t s u d n I r o u q i L Regulations for
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he Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) says a robust policy framework which will be streamlined in all spheres of government is vital to sustaining and growing South Africa’s liquor industry. The liquor industry was estimated to have contributed R93.2 billion to the South African economy in 2009/10 which was at 3.9% of 2009 Gross Domestic Products. Chief Director of the National Liquor Authority (NLA) at the DTI, Thezi Mabuza, was speaking recently at a Liquor Regulators Conference in Limpopo. The conference was attended by representatives from the liquor authorities, policy makers, municipalities, research institutions, law
enforcement agencies and other national “We need to develop a cooperative and integrated regulatory framework that government departments. promotes a sustainable and responsible The objectives of the conference liquor industry that will contribute amongst others were to share knowledge positively and in a matured manner to and best practices on liquor regulation, those issues we all need solutions to,” understand the roles of different said Mabuza. departments in liquor regulations Ben Mdebuka, from the South African and develop an ideal model for the Liquor Traders Association said synchronisation of liquor regulation to regulation and licensing procedure ease regulatory burden. should be streamlined in such a way that Mabuza said the country’s liquor industry authorities speak with one voice. had not changed in the past 10 years in “Legislation needs to strike a balance relation to capital and ownership. The between the needs of players in the informal sector was still occupied by industry to ensure that there is healthy historically disadvantaged individuals. competition. Self-regulation must The DTI administers the Liquor Act No.59 be promoted by the act to promote of 2003 through the NLA, a national development and responsible trading,” entity within the department. Mdebuka said. www.spotongmag.co.za
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