DUTY CALLS is your weekly look at changes in the South African tariff dispensation and amendments to Customs and Excise legislation. This column aims to provide the reader with a summary of the main changes and is not intended to be a comprehensive statement of the law. No liability is accepted for errors or omissions. There were no tariff amendments published - 28 March Tariff applications - response due Revision of the customs tariff dispensation on caustic soda classifiable under tariff subheading 2815.11 and 2815.12, at a rate of duty of 20% ad valorem. The revision will be conducted according to a framework of investigation, which was approved by the Board on Tariffs and Trade. Response on application due by 18 April. Rebate of the customs duty (“duty”) on aluminium foil laminated to polyethylene, classifiable under tariff subheading 7607.19.90/1, for the manufacture of bottle capsules for wine and spirits. Response on the application was due by 28 March. Tariff application Reinstatement of the rebate provision on goods of any description for the manufacture of photosensitive semi-conductor panels including photovoltaic cells, classifiable under tariff subheading 8541.40. Response on the application due by 2 May. No response due on anti-dumping notices Import permits for duty free black tea. The tea dispensation that came into effect on 1 April 1999, allows for the duty free importation of 7 800 tons of bulk black tea originating from Malawi (6 000 tons) and Zimbabwe (1 800 tons) per annum. The policy was accepted to reserve 5% for new entrants, which if calculated amounts to 300 tons for Malawi and 90 tons from Zimbabwe. New entrants i.e. companies that are involved in the packing of tea of a mass not exceeding 1kg and companies that wish to engage in the packaging of tea of a mass not exceeding 1kg, which are not in the possession of an import permit to import bulk tea duty free from either Malawi or Zimbabwe, are requested to apply to the Director: Import and Export Control (“Director”) should they wish to obtain such a permit. Applicants should furnish the Director with a duly completed application form (“H461”), which is available on the DTI’s website. It is imperative to note that the brand name under which the packed tea is/will be marked should be provided. Response due by 4 April.
