Changes to Customs & Excise Act – Workshop The Legal & Policy Division (Customs Legislative Policy – Research & Drafting) at the South African Revenue Service (Sars) hosted an information session on the 2008 Legislative Changes to the Customs and Excise Act. A full report on the meeting will be published in next week’s issue. Mercosur / Sacu Tariff Offers – Final The final tariff offers received in respect of the South African Customs Union (Sacu) and Mercosur have been published. The tariff offers in question relate to (i) Offer of Mercosur to Sacu; and (ii) Offer of Sacu to Mercosur. The tariff offers covers a substantial part of the Sacu and Mercosur Harmonised Customs and Excise Tariff. If you have not reviewed the tariff offers you should do so. Statutory Measures – Vines & Table Grapes The Department has announced the establishment of a statutory measure in respect of the records and returns relating to vines, as well as the production and market information of table grapes. Statutory Measures – Table Grapes The Department has announced the establishment of a statutory measure in respect of the registration of producers and exporters of table grapes. Statutory Measures – Table Grapes (Levies) The Department has announced the establishment of a statutory measure and determination of levies on table grapes. Proposed Levy on Pipeline- Gas 2009/10 The Department Of Minerals and Energy has published a notice in the Government Gazette in respect Of the “Proposed Levy of Pipe-Gas and Petroleum Pipeline Industries For 2009/10”. Comment is due by 15 December 2008. Proposed Rules for Petroleum Pipelines Act The Department of Minerals and Energy has published a notice in the Government Gazette in respect of the “notice of intention to make rules in terms of the Petroleum Pipelines Act, 2003”. Comment is due by 19 December 2008. Meeting with the Premier of Basque Region in Spain An invitation has been extended to attend a meeting with the premier of the Basque region in Spain, Juan José Ibarretxe. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 26 November 2008. Tariff Applications – Comment Due Proposed reduction in the rate of duty (“duty”) on alphabetical, anatomical, botanical, mathematical and other education charts (“posters”) to free of duty. Proposed reduction in the rate of duty on pencil leads, black or coloured. Proposed withdrawal of certain rebate provisions in Schedule No.3 and Schedule No.4 to the Customs and Excise Act. The intention of the application is to establish whether there are any industry role-players who are still making use of these rebate items, or would have any objection to their being withdrawn. The notice covers 27 pages of rebate items. Comment is due by 05 December 2008. Soda Ash Industry – Comment Due The Minister of Trade and Industry has announced that in accordance with the provisions of the Competition Act he may designate an industry after consultation with the Minister responsible for that industry for the purpose of an application for the exemption from provisions of the Competition Act. Comment is due by 28 November 2008.
