No liability is accepted for errors or omissions. Amendment to the Customs and Excise Act - 20 September The amendment of section 64D of the Customs and Excise Act i.e. bonded goods, was announced. An interpretation of the change will be provided in next week's issue. Additional information i.r.o. tyre imports The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced that importers of tyres will be required to provide additional information on the bill of entry. Importers are invited to provide the SARS with comments by no later than 14 October 2002. SARS announces an interest rate increase The SARS has announced that with effect from 1 October 2002, interest rates charged in respect of outstanding taxes, duties and levies, as well as interest rates paid by the SARS on refunds in terms of the various Acts administered by the Commissioner for SARS will increase. The following interest rates in respect of Value-Added Tax (VAT) and Customs and Excise duties will apply with effect from 1 October 2002: Value Ð Added Tax Act, 1991: The rate at which interest will be charged in respect of outstanding VAT will increase from 1.1% to 1.3% per month. The rate at which interest will be paid to vendors in respect of VAT refunds will increase from 13% to 15.5%. Customs and Excise Act, 1964: The rate at which interest will be charged in respect of outstanding customs and excise duties will increase from 13% to 15.5%. Response due on anti-dumping investigation - 14 October 2002 Initiation of an investigation into the alleged dumping of cotton floor mops, dust and brush sets, floor brooms and toilet brush sets originating in or imported from Italy. The petition was lodged by USABCO (Pty) Ltd a SACU manufacturer. Sunset review of the anti-dumping duties on capsules containing 250mg and 500mg amoxycillin trihydrate, originating in India and imported from Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited, India. The petition was lodged by Pharmacare Limited a SACU manufacturer of the product. There were no tariff amendments - 20 September 2002 Response due on tariff applications by 25 October 2002. An increase in the customs duty (duty) on containers for compressed or liquefied gas, of iron or steel from free of duty to 15 per cent ad valorem. The revision of the tariff with respect to fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates classified under Chapter 3 of the Customs and Excise Act. An increase in the rate of the duty on UHT milk from free of duty. (The proposed level of duty was not indicated.) Response due on tariff applications by 11 October 2002 The rebate of the customs duty (duty) on guar beans, classifiable under tariff subheading 0713.90.20, for the manufacture of guar powder, meal or flower. The reduction in the duty on flour, meal and powder of dried leguminous vegetables of heading 07.13, classifiable under tariff subheading 1106.10, from 0.8c/kg to free of duty. The reduction of the duty on new pneumatic tyres of rubber, for whelks identifiable for wheelchairs, from 20% ad valorem to free of duty. The revision of the duty on wine, other fermented beverages and spirits. In light of the investigations published in 1998, the Board on Tariffs and Trade is considering recommending the following levels of duty with regard to wine, other fermented beverages and spirits: The duty on wine and grape must, vermouth and other wine, classifiable under tariff heading 22.04 and 22.05, to be adjusted to R1.00 per litre. The duty in cider and perry, classifiable under tariff subheading 2206.00.80, to be amended to R1.00 per litre. The duty of undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcohol strength by volume of less than 80 per cent volume, in containers holding more than 2 litres, to be increased to 154c per litre. Amendment of rebate item 317.02/00.00/02.00. The withdrawal of the rebate item on tartaric acid for the manufacture of wines and the revision of the customs duty on tartaric acid, classifiable under tariff subheading 2918.12, with a rate of ad valorem. Compiled by Riaan de Lange of Deloitte & Touche Trade & Investment Solutions. E-mail: rdelange@deloitte.co.za
