Compliance costs a growing challenge for SMEs in chemical sector
Government over-regulation has seen small to medium businesses struggling to keep up with the cost of compliance.
That's according to Commercial Law expert Matthew Thornton-Dibb who is attending the Chemical Cluster Imbizo at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban today.
Thornton-Dibb says the fairly new air quality legislation is also a contributing factor.
"I think it's more of the same, really. The guys are going to have to look carefully at the cost of compliance, understanding whether they are going to be able to get technologies in place that will allow them to meet the regulations that are being published on environmental affairs.
"Otherwise, they are going to have to look at cutting down on production in order to meet those standards and not face the consequences of criminal fines and potential imprisonment for directors of those companies," he said.
(Photos: Steve Bhengu)