01 January 2012 Checklist As you head off for a welldeserved break, you may want to take quick minute to make sure that you are prepared for 01 January 2012. The following could serve as a checklist: (i) HS2012 effective from 01 January 2012, (get documentation by typing http://www.sars.gov. za/home.asp?pid=73587 in your browser); (ii) the South African Revenue Service (Sars) reminder to renew your licence for 2012; and (iii) Amendments to display panels, tariff subheading 8529.90.75, effective from 01 January 2012. Sars’ Customs Connect – December 2011 Sars has released its second issue (December 2011) of Customs Connect which looks at the achievements of 2011 under the Customs Modernisation Programme, as well as what you can expect in 2012. The 14-page publication contains the following articles: (i) What you can expect in 2012; (ii) Customs Modernisation milestones of 2011; (iii) Changes at Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland (BLNS) Border Posts; (iv) Exciting times ahead for compliant traders; (v) New Tariff System on the Cards; (vi) Single Registration for Customs and Excise clients; and (vii) New Customs Processes at South Africa’s Border Posts. Just to whet your appetite, some of the main Customs Modernisation changes you can expect in 2012: (i) Rollout of a new workflow system, declaration and inspection process at the South African Revenue Service (Sacu) border post; (ii) Introduction of a new Passenger Processing solution and payment process for travellers; (iii) Implementation of new Automated Cargo Management system (ACM) for road; (iv) Single Registration; (v) Preferred Trader Programme; (vi) A new Tariff Management System (TMS) and enhanced Tariff Book; (vii) Regional Information Technology connectivity; (viii) Interfront CMS; (ix) Enhanced warehouse control and management; and (x) Tobacco industry compliance. World Customs Journal The latest issue of the World Customs – September 2011 has just been published. This Journal contains the following Academic Contributions: (i) Cloud single window: legal implications of new model cross-border single window; (ii) Towards an international regime of supply chain security: an international relations perspective; (iii) Preventing corruption: lessons learned from anti-corruption training for Belgian customs and excise officers; (iv) Developing the case for trade facilitation in practice; (vi) Extended logistical factors for success in international trade; (vii) Developing performance measurement for the Russian Customs Service. It also contains the following Practitioner Contributions: (i) Reversing the trend: low cost and low risk methods for assuring proper duty payments; (ii) Trade facilitation and supply chain security: a globally integrated approach; and (iii) Customs Union between the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Community. Duty Calls’ Watch List Comment on the proposed increase in the rate of customs duty on stainless steel sinks due by 16 December 2011. Comment on the alleged dumping of fully threaded screws with hexagon heads, excluding those of stainless steel originating in or imported from the People’s Republic of China due by 27 December 2011. Wishing you a peaceful and relaxing festive season and a fulfilling 2012.
