WCO Adopts Amendments To HS System At its 43rd Session which took place at World Customs Organisation (WCO) headquarters from 09 to 20 March 2009, the Harmonised System (HS) Committee adopted amendments to the international HS goods nomenclature in the context of the 4th review cycle. According to the WCO these amendments were due to be submitted to the WCO Council for approval in June 2009. Environmental and social issues are a major feature of the amendments, particularly the use of the HS as the standard for classifying and coding goods of specific importance to food security and early warning data falling within the ambit of the Food Security Information for Action Programme of the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). Once approved by the WCO Council, all amendments, except those for which an objection has been timeously lodged with the WCO Secretariat, will enter into force for all Contracting Parties to the HS Convention on 01 January 2012. Implementation Paperless Release Initiative In a letter dated 08 June 2009 the South African Revenue Service (Sars) announced its Paperless Release Initiative which was planned to be implemented on 23 May 2009. According to Sars, during a recent prioritisation exercise it was however agreed that the implementation of a new Customs Risk Engine should receive a higher priority as this would enable Customs to improve on the quality of stops/detentions, which in turn will have a positive impact on the paperless initiative. This was done with effect from 01 June 2009. Sars now envisages that the paperless initiative will be ready for implementation on 04 July 2009. Tariff Applications – Comment Due Today The reduction in the rate of customs duty on tubes, pipes and hoses of vulcanised rubber (excluding hard rubber) without fittings, reinforced or otherwise combined with only metals, from 15% ad valorem to free of duty. The reduction in the rate of customs duty on rope lights, having a casing of polymers of vinyl (chloride) with an outside diameter of 13mm or more but not exceeding 15mm, internally fitted with inter-connected lamps from 20% ad valorem to free of duty, by the creation of an additional 8-digit tariff subheading. The increase in the rate of customs duty on spades and shovels of a maximum blade width of more than 150mm but not exceeding 200mm from free of duty to 20% ad valorem. Comment due by 03 July 2009. Bilateral Investment Treaties Policy Review The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) has initiated a review into Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) entered into by South Africa from 1994 to date. The dti has developed a draft policy review document on which comment is due by no later than 24 July 2009. Trade Remedy Application – Comment Due A notice appeared in the Government Gazette on the initiation of an investigation into the alleged circumvention of the provisional duties against imports of tall oil fatty acid originating in or imported from Sweden. The application was lodged by Oleochemical Products, the sole manufacturer of the product in the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu), who indicated that the Sacu importers had shifted their sourcing to the United States of America. All interested parties have until Monday, 06 July 2009 to provide their completed Importer, or Exporter Questionnaires.
