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 of South African Tariff & Trade Solutions. E-mail: riaan@importsolutions.co.za Comments Invited on Amendments to the ITA Act Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) has called for comment on the proposed amendment to certain sections of the International Trade Administration Act (ITA Act). More information is available on request. Closing date for comments – 5 May 2006. The dti’s Financing Industrial Cluster Conference The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) Strategic Competitiveness Unit, in partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC), has invited all interested parties to attend its “Financial Industrial Cluster: Options and Strategic Implications” conference, which will be hosted at the International Convention Centre, Cape Town from May 2-4, 2006. The dti’s National Export Strategy Workshop The dti and the ITC have invited all interested parties to attend its “National Export Strategy Design and Management for Eastern and Southern African Countries” workshop, which will be hosted in Durban from May 10-13, 2006. The venue is to be confirmed. Amendment to the Customs and Excise Rules The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has called for comment on the amendment of Section 96(1)(a) of the Customs and Excise Act (the Act) i.e. “Notice of action and period for bringing an action”. This Section deals with the notice of an action and the period for bringing the action where judicial proceedings are instituted against the State, the Minister of Finance, the Commissioner for SARS, or an officer. Closing date for comments – 2 May 2006. The insertion of Rule 7 i.e. report of arrival or departure of ships and aircraft, Rule 11 i.e. landing of unentered goods, and Rule 21 i.e. special customs and excise warehouses. The introduction of form DA1A i.e. cargo declaration (in respect of fish imported from foreign trawlers), and form DA1B i.e. account (for fish received into exports storage warehouse). The amendment of form DA70 i.e. Application to make provisional payment. The proposed amendment is to delete the obsolete reference to “regulations”, and to substitute all “admission of guilt” with “administrative penalties”. Comments are invited by no later than 12 May 2006. No Tariff Amendments – 28 April 2006 Tariff Applications – Response Due Reduction in the rate of duty on preparations put up as salmon food from 20% ad valorem to free of duty. Response due by 25 May 2006.Increase in the rate of the duty on tools of two or more put up in sets for retail sale from free of duty to 20% ad valorem. Rebate of the customs duty on other woven fabrics of synthetic fibres for the manufacture of headgear. Response due by 19 May 2006. No Trade Remedy Amendments – 28 April 2006 Trade Remedy Amendments – 25 April 2006 The imposition of provisional anti-dumping duties on feed supplements containing, by mass, 40 per cent or more lysine, whether or not containing added antibiotics or added melengestrol acetate imported from or originating in the United States of America. The rate of anti-dumping duties ranges from 34% ad valorem to 49% ad valorem. Trade Remedy Applications – No Response Due No Rule Amendments – 28 April 2006 No Rule Amendments (DAR/21) – 24 April 2006 Item 200.03 to the rules of the Act has been amended to include Alexkor Limited as the controlling body for goods landed in Alexander Bay.
