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. Rule Amendments (DAR/104) – 29 April Amendment of Rule 15 of the Customs and Excise Act 91 of 1964 i.e. “Persons Entering or Leaving Republic (South Africa) and their Baggage”. This has seen the introduction of form DA331 i.e. “Customs Declaration”, and the following highlighted amendments. Rule 15.01 Any person entering the Republic shall not remove his baggage, nor any other goods accompanying him, from customs and excise control, or cause such baggage or goods to be so removed unless so authorised by the Controller, and no person shall deliver any such baggage or goods left with or handed to him for delivery until release has been granted. Declare to a Controller on a form DA331 all goods contemplated in Section 15(1)(a). Rule 15.03 No goods brought into the Republic for commercial purposes, whether or not for own use, shall be entered in terms of the provisions of Section 38. Person – (a) entering the Republic shall remove his or her baggage, or any other goods accompanying him or her, from customs and excise control, or cause such baggage or goods to be so removed unless so authorised by the Controller; and (b) shall deliver any such baggage or goods left with him or her or handed to him or her for delivery unless release has been granted. Tariff Amendments – 29 April Provision is made for the creation of manufacturing rebate item 315.01/4008.29/01.06 for a rebate of the full customs duty (duty) on vulcanised rubber rods, with a cross-sectional dimension not exceeding 61mm for the manufacture of suspension units, of iron or steel, used for anti-vibration, damping, tensioning or oscillating purposes. The insertion of tariff subheading 4016.99.17/0 in respect of “- - - Unmounted rubber strips for windscreen wiper blades”. The rates of duty in respect of “general”, “European Union”, and “Southern African Development Community” are free of duty. Tariff Applications – No Response Due Anti-dumping Application – Response Due The initiation of an investigation into the alleged dumping of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), classifiable under tariff subheading 3907.60.90, originating in or imported from China, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), India, Indonesia, South Korea and Thailand. The application was initiated by SANS (Pty) Ltd and Hosaf (Pty) Ltd, representing the domestic manufacturers of the product, who allege that they cannot compete with the low prices offered to importers and that the alleged dumped exported products are causing material injury and/or a threat of material injury. Response due by no later than 9 May. No Anti-dumping Amendments – 29 April The DTI’s ExportWeek – 17 to 19 May The inaugural Export Africa exhibition, the continent’s first multi-sectoral export exhibition, will take place from 17 to 19 May 2005 at Gallagher Estate. Note: This is a non comprehensive statement of the law. No liability can be accepted for errors and omissions. New Transnet appointments herald turnaround progress Industry welcomes stability ALAN PEAT THE TRANSPORT parastatal Transnet has confirmed the appointment of new heads for Spoornet and the National Ports Authority (NPA) – and has created a new post of chief operating officer. Former Iscor boss Louis van Niekerk takes on the newly created post, and will liaise directly with the CEOs of Spoornet; Petronet; the NPA; and SA Port Operations (Sapo). Transnet CEO Maria Ramos, meantime, also confirmed the appointments of Siyabonga Gama as CEO at Spoornet (he has been acting-CEO since the sudden resignation of former boss Dolly Mokgatle in January) and Khomotso Phihlela at the NPA - effective from May 1. “I think it’s certainly to be welcomed,” said Dave Rennie, CEO of Ocean Africa Container Shipping (OACS) and chairman of the Container Liner Operators Forum (Clof). “It’s very progressive, and brings stability to management.” He saw the new operating officer post as one which will ensure co-ordination amongst the Transnet core subsidiaries, and add extra control to the rather loose-knit stable of business units. “It’s beginning to manifest what Maria Ramos has been saying,” said Rennie, “that she intends to turn the business around, keep prices under control, and help drive economic growth in SA.”
