WCO Capacity Building Director – Candidate On 26 June 2010 the members of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) are set to elect a new director for capacity building. At the recommendation of the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, South Africa has proposed Erich Kieck, the group executive: customs strategy at Sars. Floating Hotels Customs Rules – Comment On 28 April 2010 the South African Revenue Service (Sars) published its proposed amendments to the Rules to the Customs and Excise Act in respect of floating hotels for the duration of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Rules specifically refer to “sealable goods”. The proposed amendments relate to: (i) Section 09 – “Sealing of goods on board ships or aircraft”. (Chapter III – Importation, Exportation and Transit and Coastwise Carriage of Goods); and (ii) Section 24 – “Ships’ or Aircraft Stores Consumed in the Republic.” (Chapter IV – Customs and Excise Warehouses; Storage and Manufacture of Goods in Customs and Excise Warehouses). The closing date for applications is 06 May 2010. Airfreight Operations – Durban Relocation In a letter dated 29 April 2010 Sars advised that from 01 May 2010 all Customs airfreight operations would be relocated from the Durban International Airport to the new King Shaka International Airport. On 30 May 2010 all Customs operations at the Durban International Airport will cease. Wheat Tariff Amendment – 30 April 2010 On 30 April 2010 Sars advised that the General, the European Union (EU), and the European Free Trade Area (EFTA) rates of customs duties on wheat and wheaten flour, classifiable under tariff subheadings 1001.90 and 1101.00, would be increased from free of customs duty to 14.07c/kg and 21.10c/kg respectively. It is important to note that the rates of customs duties in respect of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) remain free i.e. 0%. The tariff amendment is as a result of the application of the variable formula tariff, which accounts for variations in the international prices of wheat and wheaten flour. TCIDP Tariff Amendment – 30 April 2010 The effect of this amendment is that (i) Rebate item 460.11/00.00/06.00 has been deleted; (ii) the Rebate Item 460.11/00.00/07.00 i.e. the rebate provision for the Textile and Clothing Industry Development Program (TCIDP) has been extended for imports for home consumption between 01 November 2009 to 30 September 2011; and (iii) a new rebate provision (Rebate Item 460.11/00.00/08.00) for the TCIDP has been created to extend the TCIDP for imports for home consumption, between 01 November 2009 to 30 September 2012 on a limited range of input materials. Bills Of Entry Acquittal – External Policy Sars has released its “External Policy – Acquittal of Bills of Entry” dated 31 March 2010. The purpose of the document is to assist Sars stakeholders in the acquittal of Removal in Bond (RIB) and Removal in Transit (RIT) Bills of Entry (BOE) in terms of Section 18 of the Act and the Rules thereto.
