Regulations for RIP Cigarettes In a Government Gazette of 04 December 2009 the Department of Health published “Regulations Relating to the Standards for Manufacturing of Reduced Ignition Propensity (RIP) Cigarettes”. The 5-page Government Gazette contains the following headings (i) Definitions; (ii) Requirements; Performance Standard; (iii) Testing Requirement; (iv) Certification and Product Change; and (v) Packaging and Marking Requirements. As for the “Requirements” the notice states that “No person shall import, sell, or offer to sell, any cigarettes unless (a) the cigarettes have been tested in accordance with the testing method and meet the performance standard specified in regulation 3; (b) a written certification has been filed by the manufacturer or importer with the Director- General in accordance with regulations 10 to 14; and (c) the cigarettes are marked in accordance with regulation 16 to 19. Comment is due by 04 March 2009. Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa The Department of Transport published a notice in the Government Gazette of 04 December 2009 in respect of “Call for Nomination of Persons to Serve on the Board of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa”. Railway Safety Regulator In a Government Gazette of 04 December 2009 the National Railway Safety Regulator determined the fees for processing of the safety permit must be the amount determined in accordance with the Schedule (in the Government Gazette) with effect from 01 April 2010. South African Maritime Safety Authority In a Government Gazette of 27 November 2009 the Department of Transport published a “Call for Nominations of Persons to Serve on the Board of the South African Maritime Safety Authority”. Proposed Rules for Registration / Licensing The South African Revenue Service (Sars) has published Draft Customs and Excise Rules in respect of sections 59A and 60 of the Customs and Excise Act (“Act”) in respect of Registration and Licensing for comment. The documents that were published were (i) The Draft Rules for sections 59A and 60 to the Act; (ii) Form DA185 – Application Form: Registration / Licensing of Customs and Excise Clients; and (iii) Annexure – Security and Bond Details / Cash Deposit (Mandatory). Comment due 14 December 2009. Increase in the Customs Duty on Clothing The increase in the “general” rates of customs duty (“duty”) for specific clothing products have been increased from 40% ad valorem to 45% ad valorem. The rates of duty in respect of these products for: (i) The European Union (EU) remains at 20% ad valorem; (ii) The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) at 23% ad valorem; and (iii) The Southern African Development Community (SADC) at free of duty.
