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: rian.de.lange@za.pwc.com PricewaterhouseCoopers Customs & International Trade (CIT) consultancy. I want to thank you all for your calls and e-mails during the course of the year, and wish you all a relaxing and peaceful festive season and a prosperous 2005. If you are travelling over the festive season, please do so with care. This, the last column for 2004, was completed on 9 December 2004. Any tariff amendments or tariff applications will be covered in the first column in January 2005. New Textile and Clothing Development Programme On 25 November 2004 the Minister of Trade and Industry approved the introduction of an interim Textile and Clothing Industry Development Programme to replace the Duty Credit Certificate Scheme (DCCS), which will end on 31 March 2005. Trade & Investment South Africa (TISA) will be requesting the Minister of Finance to amend the relevant rebate provision in the Customs and Excise Act 91, of 1964, which will give effect to the new programme. The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) will be responsible for the administration of the programme. In essence the amendment states: ¥ The current level 1 benefits will fall away, while the current level 2 benefits will be amended; ¥ The Performance Assessment will fall away, and be replaced by a requirement for an international certification or a certificate of compliance from the overseas importer; and ¥ The Training Requirement remains, though with a number of amendments being effected. In addition the simplification of the procedures relating to the Training Requirement will be discussed, while Government is also considering the possibility of limiting the use of Duty Credit Certificates (DCCs) by retailers. More details on the programme, which is anticipated to commence on 1 April 2005 and run until 31 March 2007, are available on request. There were no rule or tariff amendments Ð 9 December No tariff or rule amendments at the time of printing. Tariff Applications Ð Response due The increase in the general rate of duty on welding neck and slip type flanges of stainless steel with an inside cross-sectional dimension not exceeding 203.2nn, and stainless steel butt welding fittings, classifiable under tariff subheading 7307.21.90 and 7307.2.3.90 Response due by 24 December 2004. No anti-dumping Applications Note: This is a non comprehensive statement of the law. No liability can be accepted for errors and omissions.
