Relief Assistance – A Customs Perspective With the human tragedy in Haiti and the subsequent dispatch of international aid and assistance one could easily overlook the customs ramifications. The following publications have however been issued to deal with the customs and trade facilitation aspects: The first was the World Customs Organisation (WCO) “Humanitarian Assistance” and the second the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ “Introduction to the Guidelines for the Domestic Facilitation and Regulation of International Disaster Relief and Initial Recovery Assistance”. The WCO’s Main Priorities for 2010 Early in January, at the invitation of the European Union (EU), the Secretary General of WCO, Kunio Mikuriya, attended the meeting of the Customs Union Group of the EU Council where he presented the main priorities and activities of the WCO for 2010. These include: (i) The effective implementation of risk management techniques; (ii) The establishment of a strong Customs-business partnership; (iii) Support for the "Globally Networked Customs" initiative; and (iv) The strengthening of border management and the implementation of a Single Window system (by adopting, among other things, the WCO Data Model). Special and Extra Attendance Policy During the course of last week the South African Revenue Service (Sars) released its (i) External Policy – Special and Extra Attendance; and (ii) External Standard Operating Procedure – Special and Extra Attendance. According to these documents the scope of this policy applies to clients who require Customs officers to perform special and/or extra duties. In addition, the documents also include the charges levied for an officer required to certify documents and/or to copy such documents. These documents are effective from 24 December 2009. Draft Customs Control & Customs Duty Bill – 28 Days Today, 29 January 2010, there are only 28 days left for you to comment on the Draft Bills, which were first published on 30 October 2009. Action Required – Your Reminder At the request of readers we will remind you of those issues on which comment is due. For ease of reference the issue in which the original notice was published is provided in brackets. • Tariff applications relating to (i) the proposed reduction in the rate of customs duty on self-copy paper; (ii) the proposed increase in the rate of customs duty on glycerol; and (iii) the proposed increase in the dollar-based reference price for wheat, in respect of which comment is due by 29 January 2010 (Duty Calls – 15 January 2010). • The amendment of the Rules to the Customs and Excise Act relating to form DA90. Form DA90 is titled “Claim in respect of Excise Duty and Fuel Levy on Motor Fuel used by Diplomatic and Other Foreign Representatives in terms of Items 602.01, 602.02 and 640.1 of Schedule No. 6 to the Customs and Excise Act, No.91 of 1964”, on which comment is due by 29 January 2010. (Duty Calls – 15 January 2010).
