Rule Amendment – Environmental Levy On 04 February 2011 the South African Revenue Service (Sars) announced the amendment of Rule 54FB.05 under Chapter VA “Environmental Levies” to the Customs and Excise Act (the Act). The amendment relates to the insertion of Rule 54FB.05(d) to the Act, which reads “Licensees may include environmental levy payable for March 2011 in terms of environmental levy item 151.02 with the accounts for the quarter 1 April 2011 to 30 June 2011.” The amendment will come into effect on 01 March 2011. Dumping Duty Amendment – Blankets The amendment to Schedule No.2 “Anti-Dumping Duties” to the Act of the anti-dumping duties imposed on blankets (excluding electric blankets), classifiable under tariff subheadings 6301.40 and 6301.90, imported from or originating in the People’s Republic of China (China) or Turkey. According to the notice the residual anti-dumping duties (company specific/other) have been deleted and the rates of anti-dumping duties have been maintained against the specific countries. Tariff Amendment – Caustic Soda The insertion of Rebate Item 306.15/2815.11/01.06, which relates to sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), classifiable under tariff subheading 2815.11. The effect of this amendment is that a new rebate provision is created for sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), solid, for use in the extraction of uranium oxide classifiable in subheading 2612.10 from uranium ore, in such quantities, at such times and subject to such conditions as the International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) may allow by a specific permit. Statutory Measures for the Potato Industry The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries received a request from Potato South Africa, in terms of the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act, for the continuation of statutory measures in the potato industry. The current statutory measures will expire on 29 June 2011 and it is proposed that the measures be implemented for a new four year period starting on 30 June 2011. Directly affected groups i.e. agents, certification bodies, exporters, export inspection bodies, fresh produce markets, importers, producers and traders are invited to submit their written comments by no later than 25 February 2011. Directly Affected Agriculture Group Register The National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) is updating its “Register of Directly Affected Groups” for each commodity in the agricultural sector. The register is used to bring applications for statutory measures to the attention of directly affected groups and to invite such directly affected group to lodge any objections or representations relating to a request for intervention in the agricultural sector within a specified time. If you have not yet registered, you are invited to register as a directly affected group within the NAMC. Registration is free of charge. National Road Traffic Regulations On 01 February 2011 the Minister of Transport published the “Amendment of the National Road Traffic Regulations”. Comments are due by 01 March 2011. Board of South African Maritime Safety Authority On 04 February 2011 the Minister of Transport announced the appointment of members to the Board of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa).
