NRCS compulsory labelling In the Government Gazette of 28 November 2014 the Trade and Industry Minister declared compulsory specifications for energy efficiency and labelling of electrical and electronic apparatus in terms of the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) Act, 2008. If you are involved in the importation and manufacture of the following products, you should take account of the Government Gazette notice: audio, video (including television sets, video recording equipment, simple set top boxes (SSTBs), audio equipment and multi-function equipment for consumer use; television sets include, but are not limited to, those with cathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma display panel (PDP) or projection technologies) [tariff headings (THs) 85.18; 85.21; 85.25; 85.28; and 95.04]; electric ovens [TH 85.16]; refrigerators [TH 84.18]; freezers [TH 84.18]; dishwashers [TH 84.22]; tumble dryers [TH 84.21]; washer-dryer combinations [TH 84.50]; washing machines [THs 84.50 and 84.51]; air conditioners [TH 84.15]; and heat pumps [tariff subheadings (TSHs) 8418.61 and 8418.69]. These are in essence audio equipment and kitchen appliances. [The THs and TSHs were not published in the notice and have been added by the author. You should not rely on the information without your own verification.] Should you require clarification contact Ronel Greyvenstein, World Trade Organisation (WTO) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Enquiry Point, at ronel. greyvenstein@sabs.co.za. WCO classification rulings On 05 December 2014 the World Customs Organisation (WCO) published the classification decisions taken at the 54th Session of the Harmonised System (HS) Committee in September 2014. More in Customs Buzz. TDCA and WTO permits The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) published the “Procedures for the Application, Administration and Allocation of Export Permits under the Trade, Development and Co-Operation Agreement between the European Union (EU) and the Republic of South Africa for the Year 2015” and “Application for Market Access Permits for Agricultural Products in terms of the WTO Agreement for 2015”. Permits for the products will be allocated on the basis of the Preferential Market Access Permit Allocation System which takes into account the applicant’s BBEEE status, market share, quota applied, quota available and also the number of applicants. Customs Control Act Workshop On 11 December 2014 a workshop on the draft rules for Chapters 21 (Confidentiality), 23 (Disclosures in terms of international agreements), and 25 (Rules to facilitate implementation of this Chapter), 26 (Offences in terms of this Chapter), 27 (Purpose of this Chapter), 28 (Customs control of goods), 29 (Customs control of persons), 30 (Foreign-going vessels and aircraft passing through Republic without calling or landing), 31 (Designation of places of entry and exit) of the Customs Control Act, 2014 is taking place. Duty Calls’ Watch List The finalisation of the Sunset Review investigation into the alleged dumping of tall oil fatty acid from Sweden is expected before the end of the month.
