DUTY CALLS

Rule Amendments Agent
Registration
On 23 March the South
African Revenue Service
(Sars) gazetted amendments to
Sections 59A.03(1)(a)(ii) and
120 of the Customs and Excise
Act.
The rule amendments
relate to the next roll-out of
mandatory foreign principal
registration and/or licensing
and the mandatory registration
of a nominated agent located
in South Africa.
According to the notice,
despite subparagraph (i) ie,
Section 59A.03(1)(i), importers
and exporters will be allowed,
subject to subparagraph (iv)
ie, Section 59A.03(1)(iv), to
use registration code number
70707070 ie, unknown
importer and unknown
exporter, for clearance of
goods at any place except the
following and from the date
specified for each place.
The places and dates:
Kopfontein (11 February
2012), Ramathlabama (25
February 2012), Groblersbrug
(17 March 2012), Nerston
(24 March 2012), Vioolsdrift
(31 March 2012), Nakop (31
March 2012), Quachasneck
(26 May 2012), Caledonspoort
(26 May 2012), Mananga (02
June 2012), Jeppes Reef (02
June 2012), Golela (09 June
2012), Mahamba (16 June
2012), Van Rooyenshek (16
June 2012), Oshoek (30 June
2012), Ficksburg (07 July
2012), Maserubridge (14 July
2012), Lebombo (21 July 2012),
Beitbridge (28 July 2012), OR
Tambo International Airport
(11 August 2012), King Shaka
International Airport (18
August 2012), Cape Town
International Airport (25
August 2012), and Skilpadshel
(01 September 2012).
Customs Modernisation
Changes
On 22 March 2012 Sars
announced the following
Customs Modernisation
changes effective from 24
March: (i) New inspection
workflow, (ii) Customs system
enhancements, (iii) Submission
of electronic supporting
documents, (iv) Electronic
submission of declarations and
cargo reports, (v) Pre-clearance
before entry at border for
commercial vehicles, (vi)
No more 70707070 codes,
(vii) All traders will have to
be registered with Sars, and
(viii) ‘Foreign’ traders to work
through SA-based ‘agents’.
For queries contact: Office
Hours: (08:00 – 18:00):
Vanessa Cloete (vcloete@sars.
gov.za), Jenny Stoltz (jstoltz@
sars.gov.za) Tel (w): 017 846
9007/9429
PVC Anti-Dumping
Application
On 23 March the International
Trade Administration
Commission of South Africa
(Itac) announced the proposed
exclusion of specific PVC
strips of a thickness of 2mm
and a width not exceeding
20mm, classifiable under tariff
subheading 3920.49, from
the existing anti-dumping
duties applicable on PVC rigid
originating in or imported
from the People’s Republic of
China.
Comment is due by 30 April
2012.
Tariff Applications
Itac announced on 23
March the following tariff
applications:
The proposed creation of
a Rebate Item for the rebate
of the rate of customs duty
on specific fittings and
mechanisms, classifiable
under tariff subheading
8305.10 and 8305.90, used in
the manufacture of loose-leaf
binders or files.
The proposed review of
the rate of customs duty
on reception apparatus for
television not designed to
incorporate a video display
or screen (ie, set top boxes),
classifiable under tariff
subheading 8528.71, at free of
customs duty.
The proposed increase in the
rate of customs duty on alkyd
resins, classifiable under tariff
subheading 3907.50, from free
of customs duty to 15% ad
valorem.
Comments are due by 20
April 2012.