Tariff 2015 For many weeks now we have been reminding you, under our Watch List, that Tariff 2015 would be published before 29 November 2014. We were very close, it was published on 28 November 2014. There were 13 Government Gazette notices of tariff amendments, the majority of which will be introduced on 1 January 2015. However, one is scheduled for introduction on 1 December 2014 (plastic bags), two for 1 February 2015 (chicken) and one with retrospective effect from 7 December 2012 (description change). More in Customs Buzz. Plastic Bag Reminder On 24 November 2014 two tariff amendments were published for plastic bags to include thermoplastic materials under compulsory specifications for plastic bags and flat bags as recommended by the National Regulator of Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) VC 8087/2013. Additional Note 3 to Chapter 39 to the Customs and Excise Act was published on 28 November 2014. Neglecting the pink pages The sad news is that if you still remember the pink pages in the Tariff Book you are quite possibly middle aged. A pink page was inserted in the Tariff Book for a period of six months, to denote the imposition of a provisional trade remedy duty (Provisional Payment or PP). To check how many PPs there were you merely turned the Tariff Book on its side. So how do you do it in the electronic era? It seems that it is no longer considered part of the Tariff Book – the Schedules to the Act. If you use the online Sars Tariff Book it does not provide for it. But it should. Customs Acts Workshops On 11 December 2014 a workshop on the draft rules for Chapters 21, 23 and 25 to 31 of the Customs Control Act, 2014 is taking place. The slides of the workshops of November 2014 have been released. TDCA export permits In the Government Gazette of 28 November 2014 the procedures for application, administration and allocation of export permits 2015 under the Trade, Development and Co-operation Agreement (TDCA) with the European Community were published. More in Customs Buzz. Miscellaneous notices Marketing of Agricultural Products Act: Application for statutory measures on fresh mangoes intended for processing. Comment due. Counterfeit Goods Act: Designation of warehouse facility as counterfeit goods depot and appointment of person in charge. Comment due. Agreement between South Africa and Argentina for exchange of information relating to tax matters Duty Calls’ Watch List Comment on the exclusion of unframed glass mirrors from the People’s Republic of China from antidumping duty is due by 5 December 2014. The finalisation of the Sunset Review investigation into the alleged dumping of tall oil fatty acid from Sweden, initiated on 12 November 2013, is expected before the end of the month.
