Accreditation Draft Rule Amendments Published The South African Revenue Service (Sars) has called for comment on the proposed draft Rule amendments to the Customs and Excise Act (the Act) in terms of Section 64E relating to Accreditation. The proposed amendments relate to the insertion of: (i) First Level Accreditation Client Status; (ii) Application of Other Provisions; (iii) Person who may Apply for Level 2 Accreditation and Application of Accredited Client Status; (iv) Criteria for Level 2 Accreditation; (v) Benefits Applicable to Level 2 Accredited Client Status; (vi) Prior Permission of the Commissioner required when the Computer System of Client Changes; (vii) Delegation; (viii) Establishment and Functions of an Accreditation Review Committee; (ix) Period of Validity of Accredited Client Status; and (x) Cancellation or Suspension of Accredited Client Status. Comment is due by 15 July 2011. 170 Days to HS2012 On 01 January 2012, 220 sets of amendments will be introduced to the Harmonised System (HS) Nomenclature, also known as the South African Customs and Excise Tariff Book. The current recommendations are divided as follows: (i) Agricultural sector – 98; (ii) Chemical sector – 27; (iii) Paper sector – 9; (iv) Textile sector – 14; (v) Base Metal sector – 5; (vi) Machinery sector – 30; and (vii) Other sectors – 37. In essence the tariff subheadings amendments are divided into three categories, (i) the tariff subheadings to be deleted, (ii) the tariff subheadings to be created (new), and (iii) the tariff subheadings whose scope will be modified. If you would like to know whether your tariff subheadings are impacted, simply send us an email. HS2017 The World Customs Organisation (WCO) is already gearing itself up for the 5th HS Review Cycle that will lead to HS2017. In this instance the WCO has extended an invitation to any interested party to become involved in this review by providing concrete proposals to their national Customs Administrations or equivalent body. Imports and Exports of Whole Maize and Wheat The National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) has published a Request for the Continuation of Statutory Measures: Registration, Records and Returns in respect of Maize, Winter Cereals, Sorghum and Oilseeds and Weekly Records and Returns for Imports and Exports of Whole Maize and Wheat. Interested parties in the grains and oilseeds industries are invited to submit comments or objections with regard to the proposed continuation of the statutory measures to the NAMC on or before 15 July 2011. Compulsory Specifications for Safety Footwear The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), in terms of the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications Act, has published a notice in respect of the Introduction of the Compulsory Specification for Personal Protective Equipment: Safety Footwear-VC 9002. Tariff Applications – 08 July 2011 There were no tariff applications at the time of publication.
