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 Pricewaterhouse Coopers Customs & International Trade (CIT) consultancy Countervailing (Anti-subsidy) Regulations published for Comment In the Government Gazette of 20 August 2004, the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) published draft Countervailing (Anti-subsidy) Regulations for public comment. In essence a countervailing duty is a customs duty imposed to off-set the benefit conferred by a subsidy. Copies of the draft Regulations are available on request. With the publication of the draft Regulations, ITAC has now published the last of the three trade remedy regulations. The Anti-dumping Regulations have already been finalised. All that now remains is for the Safeguards Regulations, published earlier this year, and now the Countervailing Regulations to be finalised. Comments due to ITAC by no later than 20 September 2004. No Rule Amendments - 10 September No Tariff Amendments - 10 September Tariff Application - Response due Reduction of the customs duty (duty) on preparations put up as mollusk food from 20 per cent ad valorem to free by amending the existing scope of tariff subheading 2309.90.15. The application was lodged by the Marine Growers (Pty) Ltd reasoning that the abalone feed produced in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is not suitable for abalone production in the warm waters of the Eastern Cape. According to them, the feed produced in the SACU is recommended for use in water temperatures lower than 18 degrees Celsius, for better digestion of the feed. Response due by 1 October 2004. Rebate of duty on vulcanized rubber rods with across-section dimension not exceeding 61mm, classifiable under subheading 4008.29, for the use in the manufacture of the Neidehart System. Response due by 17 September 2004. CORRECTION NOTICE: Reduction of duty on used pneumatic tyres, classification 4012.20.90, from 25% ad valorem to free of duty. Response due by 17 September 2004. No Anti-dumping Amendments - 10 September Anti-dumping Applications - No Response due Note: This is a non comprehensive statement of the law. No liability can be accepted for errors and omissions.
