Draft Customs Control & Customs Duty Bill – Today’s the Day Close of business today (February 26) is your last opportunity to comment on the draft Customs Control Bill and the draft Customs Duty Bill. Industrial Policy Action Plan - 2010/13 On 18 February 2010 the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, released the 2010/11 - 2012/13 Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP). According to Minister Davies the 2010/11 - 2012/13 IPAP, or the IPAP2 as it is now known, builds on the National Industrial Policy Framework (NIPF) and the 2007/08 IPAP. “The plan represents a significant step forward in scaling up efforts to promote long term industrialisation and industrial diversification beyond current reliance on traditional commodities and non-tradable services,” said Davies. Preliminary Determination – Picks from India On 19 February 2010 a notice appeared on the preliminary determination in the investigation into the alleged dumping of picks originating in or imported from India. The application was lodged by Usseher Inventions (Pty) Ltd trading as Lasher Tools. According to the notice a preliminary determination was made that picks were being dumped on the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) market. However it was also indicated that there was currently no threat of material injury to the Sacu industry. Based on this, a preliminary determination was published to recommend to the Minister of Trade and Industry that he terminate the investigation. All interested parties are able to provide comments by 19 March 2010. Tariff Amendments – Sin Taxes In the Minister of Finance’s Budget speech he announced amendments to the customs duties and excise duties in Schedule No.1 Part 2A of the Customs and Excise Act (“the Act”), also known as “sin taxes”. The “sin taxes” refer to tobacco and liquor products. The Minister did not announce any changes to Schedule No.1 Part 2B of the Act, also known as “luxury taxes”. Farm Feed Regulations - Fertilisers The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has published a notice in respect of the Regulations Relating to Fertilisers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stockremedies, Sterilising Plants and Pest Control Operators, Appeal and Imports: Amendments. The 8-page notice contains a table titled “Fees Payable” which has two columns titled “Purpose”, and “Amounts Payable per Application”.
