A weekly summary of the main changes to the South African tariff dispensation and amendments to customs and excise legislation. Compiled by Riaan de Lange. E-mail: riaan.de.lange@za.pwc.com PricewaterhouseCoopers Customs & International Trade (CIT) consultancy Change to Importer/ Exporter Master File Data The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced that in the past the master file data like the importer and exporter data, including the customs codes, addresses, trading names, client types etc was made available in the form of a data compact disc (CD). However, following requests for the data to be made available electronically by means of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), the SARS decided to obtain a legal opinion from legal council. The legal opinion advised that the supply of the master file information to third parties was illegal in terms of the Customs and Excise Act 91 of 1964. Accordingly the SARS will no longer make the data CD available. Implementation of Cape System at Bloemfontein and Kimberley The rollout of the Siyakha CAPE System, referred to as CAPE Phase 2, at the office of the Controller of Customs and Excise took place on Wednesday, 28 April 2004. The SARS envisages that the enhancements to be rolled out will facilitate a paperless environment, as well as the automation of a number of manual tasks. No Rule Amendments - 30 and 28 April No Tariff Amendments - 30 April Tariff Amendments - 28 April Provision is made under tariff subheading 4911.20.30 for “Cut Samples of Cloth, Leather, Linoleum, Wallpaper, Carpets or Plastic, in Book Form; Colour-Cards, for Paints or Similar Surfacing Preparations, Whether or not in Book Form”. The general rate of customs duty (duty) is free, the EU rate of duty is free, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) rate of duty is free. Tariff Application - Response Due Rebate of the duty on atactic polypropylene (APP) being a by-product of an actual polymerisation process of polypropylene for the manufacture of waterproofing sheets. Response due by 14 May. No Anti-dumping Amendments - 30 and 28 April Anti-dumping Investigation - Response Due The anti-dumping “sunset” review investigation of stainless steel hollowware originating in or imported from China, Taiwan and South Korea. The importers and their exporters had to respond no later than 15:00 on 6 May. SACU manufacturers of stainless steel sinks are reminded that they need to submit detailed information to the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) by no later than 17 June.
