Draft Rules for the Russian GSP – Comment Due On 20 April 2009 the South African Revenue Service (Sars) published Draft Rules for the Russian Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). All interested parties are invited to provide comment by no later than 08 May 2009. The enactments to the Rules to the Customs and Excise Act (the Act) in respect of the Russian GSP relate to the following: ● Agreement on the rules of determining the origin of goods of developing countries when granting tariff preferences within the General System of Preference (Moscow, 12 April 1996) – an agreement between the governments of the Commonwealth of Independent States; ● Rules of determining the origin of goods of developing countries when granting tariff preferences within the general system of preference – (Appendix to the Agreement referred to in these rules as RO Rules). In terms of Article 1 of the Agreement, the Contracting Parties (the Governments of the Commonwealth Member States) accept these Rules, which are stated to be an integral part of the Agreement. The contents of the Decisions to which the two paragraphs preceding the text of the Agreement refer do not affect the wording of the Rules contained in the Appendix referred to in this subparagraph. The order referred to in the final paragraph of Rule 5 has been substituted by Order No. 223-r, a translation of which is included with the enactments on the Sars website; ● Protocol on the amendments and addenda to the rules of determining the origin of goods of developing countries when granting tariff preferences within the general system of preferences provided by agreement on the rules of determining the origin of goods of developing countries when granting tariff preferences within the general system of preferences dated 12 April 1996; ● The requirements applied to the completing of the certificate of origin (combined declaration and certificate) form “a” (referred to in these rules as RCO requirements) (Enclosure to the Protocol); ● List of the goods imported to the territory of the Russian Federation originated from the developing and least developing, to which the regime of preferences is applied; and ● List of the countries/users of the preferential schemes when importing to the territory of the Russian Federation. Customs Fraud and Illegal Imports – Tender The Fund for Research into Industrial Development, Growth and Equity (FRIDGE), on behalf of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac), intends to appoint consultants to conduct a Study on Trade Monitoring with Specific Focus on Customs Fraud and Illegal Imports. The tender closes on 05 May 2009. SA Business To Beijing – 30 May To 06 June 2009 The Nepad Business Foundation’s China Inc Invests in Africa Roadshow, organised in conjunction with Frontier Advisory, will take place from 30 May to 06 June 2009. The road show will provide access for South African business to key decision-makers in leading Chinese firms and organisations that are actively investing in Africa. Tariff Applications and Tariff Amendments – 24 April 2009 There were no tariff applications (increase, reduction, or rebate of the customs duty), and tariff amendments for 24 April 2009, published at the time of going to print. If you are interested in establishing whether a tariff application or a trade remedy or a draft rule amendment (to the Act) is still subject to comment, please visit TARIFF BOOK www.cargoinfo.co.za or alternatively you can go to the EVENTS CALENDAR www. tariffandtrade.co.za or www. ttinews.co.za and click on any date for further information.
