Importers caught short NEW REGULATIONS governing the import of footwear and footwear components were gazetted on June 20, but importers have been experiencing certain problems in obtaining the necessary permits in this respect.
A spokesman for the Department of Trade and Industry (DoT&I) however told FTW that this is a momentary setback which will be rectified as soon as everyone is at their new desks. The difficulty has arisen because the new regulations came into force at the same time as import control personnel in Pretoria were moving office.
Please bear with us. We'll have it all sorted out by the month (July) end, is the message they have given out.
What the controls now call for are import permits in which all shipments cleared through customs are supported by properly completed certificates of origin.
The word origin is defined as at least 25% of the production cost being performed in the originating country.
All importers of footwear are now required to register with the division of import and export control. Permits will be freely issued for footwear from WTO-member countries. But strict quotas apply to those from non-WTO signatories.
In this respect some problems have been encountered in that the notification of the consignment and permit details are sent direct to the control point without going through the importer. It is one area which is being sorted out according to a spokesman.
Newcomers to the market are being restricted to 8000 pairs each per six month period. Provision has been made for a maximum of 50 newcomers on a first in, first out basis.
Importers are required to nominate the ports of clearance for their imports in advance. In the case of imports from non-WTO countries only one port is permitted, which will be shown on the permit.
Importers are also required to have valid permits for shipments imported via other SA Customs Union members.
By Leonard Neill
