Duty calls

Legislative Amendments Effected for EU Refunds In last week’s column readers were informed that the first legislative amendment from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) would be in respect of the enlargement of the European Community (EC). This was in respect of the additional ten (10) Member States being added with retrospective effect to 1 May 2004, the date when they were included as part of the EC. This was subsequently Gazetted on January 16. No Rule Amendments – 20 January 2006 No Tariff Amendments – 20 January 2006 Tariff Applications – Response Due Reduction in the rate of customs duty (duty) on electric arc furnace transformers. Reduction in the rate of duty on preparations put up as mollusc food containing, by mass, 50% or more of a combination of wheat and gluten, by amending the existing scope of tariff subheading 2309.90.15. Rebate of the duty on plates, sheets, film, foil and strips, of polymers of vinyl chloride, non-cellular and not reinforced, laminated, supported or similarly combined with other materials, containing by weight 6% or more of plasticisers, of a thickness of 365 microns or more but not exceeding 425 microns for further processing by means of embossing or surface coating with lacquer. Rebate of the duty on narrow woven mesh fabric of nylon or polyester used in the manufacture of peaked caps. Reduction in the rate of duty on other compression-ignition internal combustion piston engines (diesel or semi-diesel engines). Should this reduction be implemented, it will result in the simplification of the tariff structure and consequently impact the existing rebate items. Response due by 17 February 2006. No Anti-dumping Amendments
– 20 January 2006 Anti-dumping Applications
– No Response Due New man appointed to head Kenya Ports TERRY HUTSON AN ASSISTANT senior commissioner with Kenya’s Revenue Authority, Abdalla Hemed Mwarua, was the surprise appointment as new head of Kenya Ports Authority last week. Mwarua has been appointed managing director for a term of three years which transport minister Ali Mwakwere says can be extended or shortened, (presumably) depending on his performance. He replaces Brown Ondego whose two consecutive terms of office ended on December 3, 2005. Shippers have generally welcomed the new appointment as have business interests at the coast, where a demand for a local person was made earlier.