Products for care of babies and infants now considered essential goods
The regulations published on March 25 states products for the care of babies and toddlers as essential services.
The regulations published by the minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs under Government Notice 318 of March 18, were amended by regulations as published in Government Notice R398 of March 25, as well as by regulations in Government Notice R419 of March 26.
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The regulations published on March 25 included under paragraph 6(a), state the following inclusion as essential goods: “(iv) Products for the care of babies and toddlers”.
Following requests for clarification, the Department of Trade and Industry in a media statement issued on Thursday morning, confirmed that this includes baby clothes, blankets, towels, and other essential products for newborns, infants, and toddlers up to 36 months old.
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To ensure the effectiveness of the national lockdown in containing the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, all stores that are currently permitted to remain open for the sale of other essential goods, including supermarkets, may therefore sell these products.
The department has been in contact with the CEOs of large retailers, who have undertaken to sell these products at prices which simply cover their basic costs of production and distribution for the period of lockdown.
Hospitals and clinics may directly procure these goods as necessary to provide for the infants and toddlers in their care.
Any further queries in this regard can be directed to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.
