Duty Calls

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@importsolutions.co.za State Warehouse Rent – Comment Due The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has invited comment on the rules for section 17 i.e. “State Warehouse” of the Customs and Excise Act, and the draft form DA68 i.e. “Application for Delivery of Goods Ex State Warehouse”. Comments due by no later than August 10, 2005. Dairy Products Trade Policy Review The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) has a policy not to issue customs duty (duty) rebate permits for dairy products in terms of Rebate Item 470.03. This Rebate Item provides for the customs duty free importation of components or inputs used in the manufacture, processing, finishing, equipment or packing of products that are exported. Woodlands Dairy lodged an application for the withdrawal of this policy. Response due by August, 19.
Tariff amendments
– 15 July 2005 The amendment of notes 5(iii), 15(ii) and 16(iii) of rebate item 317.04 in respect of the Motor Industry Development Programme (MIDP). The effect of this amendment is to align the legislation of the MIDP in order to better enforce certain of the requirements and to effect payment of claims, which have been previously disallowed. Tariff amendments
– 13 July 2005 Rebate item 307.01/3902.30/01.06 has been created for a rebate of the full customs duty (duty) on ter- and copolymers in primary forms, for the manufacture of plates, sheets, film, foil and strip of biaxially orientated polypropylene of subheading 3920.20. Tariff applications – response due The reduction in the rate of duty on N-butyl acetate. The applicant is Plascon Automotive who stated that the product was not manufactured in the common customs area of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The reduction in the rate of duty on self-adhesive plates, sheets, film, foil, tape, strip and other flat shapes of biaxially oriented polymers of propylene (excluding that which is self-adhesive on both sides), in rolls of a width exceeding 150mm but not exceeding 200mm, from 13.2% to free of duty under European Union (EU) and from 15% to free of duty under the general rate of duty with retrospective effect. The applicant is Holomatrix (Pty) Ltd who stated that BOPP film, described as a holographic high refractive Index Data Protection security Laminate (HRIL), is not manufactured in the SACU. Response due by
5 August 2005. The reduction in the rate of duty on vinyl acetate copolymers in aqueous dispersion from 10% ad valorem to free of duty. The application was lodged by Henkel SA (Pty) Ltd. Response due by 22 July 2005. Anti-dumping applications – response due Initiation of an investigation into the alleged dumping of detonating fuses and delay detonators (commonly known as shocktubes), originating in or imported from the People’s Republic of China. The application was lodged by African Explosives Limited (AEL). Response due by 15 August 2005. Anti-dumping applications – response closed ITAC has initiated an investigation into the alleged dumping of refined sunflower oil originating in or imported from Argentina and Brazil. Response was due by 11 July 2005. ITAC has published a notice in respect of the initiation of an investigation into the alleged dumping of stainless steel tubes and pipes originating in or imported from China, Taiwan, India and Malaysia. Response was due by 11 July 2005. Note: This is a non comprehensive statement of the law. No liability can be accepted for errors and omissions.