DUTY CALLS

Increase in Customs
Duty on Pigments
A notice has been
published in respect of (i)
the proposed increase in
the rate of customs duty on
pigments and preparations
based on chrome oxide
green, lead chromate, zinc
chromate, barium chromate
or strontium chromate,
inorganic pigments,
classifiable under tariff
subheading 3206.20.10
from free of customs duty
to 10% ad valorem; and
(ii) possible re-instatement
of rebate items
306.04/3206.20 /01.06
and 311.01/32.06/01.00,
which existed prior to
the reduction of tariff
subheading 3206.20.10.
Comment is due by
26 March 2010.
Trade Deficit for
January 2010
On 26 February the
South African Revenue
Service (Sars) released
the South African trade
figures (import and export
statistics) for January 2010.
A R3.3 billion trade
deficit was recorded in
comparison to the
R17.7 billion for January
2009. This was the lowest
trade deficit for January
compared to the 2008 and
2007 figures.
The main reason for the
trade deficit is the decline
in exports and an increase
in imports of mineral
products, imports and
machinery and electronic
equipment.
Income Tax – Meals
and Incidental Costs
The South African
Revenue Service (Sars)
has given notice of the
Determination of the Daily
Amount in respect of
Meals and Incidental Costs
for purposes of Section
8(1) of the Income Tax Act,
1962 (Act No.58 of 1962.
The commencement date
is 01 March 2010.
NAMC Registration
Directly Affected
Group
The National Agricultural
Marketing Council
(NAMC) has extended an
“Invitation to Register as a
Directly Affected Group in
terms of the Marketing of
Agricultural Product Act”.
The NAMC is updating
its “Register of Directly
Affected Groups” for
each commodity in the
agricultural sector.
A “directly affected
group” means any group
of people party to the
production, sale, purchase,
processing or consumption
of an agricultural product
and includes labour
employed in the production
or processing of such a
product.
Fifa Scheduled
Substances/Medical
Events
In a Government Gazette
dated 26 February 2010 the
following notices appeared
in respect of the approval
of medicines, scheduled
substances and medical
devices:
• Draft 2010 Health
Regulations: Invitation to
Submit your Inputs on the
Draft Regulations Relating
to the Accreditation
of Foreign Medical
Contingents and Approval
of Medicines, Scheduled
Substances and Medical
Devices.
• Second 2010 Fifa
World Cup South Africa
Special Measures Act:
Regulations Relating to the
Accreditation of Foreign
Medical Contingents and
Approval of Medicines,
Scheduled Substances and
Medical Devices.