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 Tariff & Trade Intelligence. E.mail: riaan@tariffandtrade.co.za Compulsory Specifications – Comment Due The Minister of Trade and Industry has given notice of the proposed introduction of a compulsory specification for: • Preservative treatment of timber. • Lamp control gear. • Electrical and electronic apparatus. • Personal flotation aids and swimming aids. Any objections to these compulsory specifications must be lodged in writing with the President, South African Bureau of Standards. Response due by 30 June 2 008. Trade Remedy Amendment Two notices have appeared regarding the removal of the anti-dumping duties on uncoated paper and paperboard, woodfree, of a kind used for writing, printing or other graphic purposes, of a mass of 46 g/m² or more but not exceeding 80 g/m², sheets, white, and of a size commonly known as A4, exported from or originating in Brazil and Indonesia. According to one Government Gazette notice the anti-dumping duties have been withdrawn with retrospective effect from 27 November 2 003. The other Government Gazette indicates it is with retrospective effect from 01 January 2 002. If you have imported the product and have paid the anti-dumping duty, you are now able to lodge an application for a refund of the duty. Tariff Applications – Comment Due The amendment and creation of a rebate of the duty provisions, or rebate items, in respect of goods used in the manufacture of disposable baby diapers. The application proposes the amendment of the present rebate items, as well as the creation of rebate items. The application was brought be Procter and Gamble Manufacturing SA (Pty) Ltd which argued that it has been importing the Pamper brand of disposable diapers for babies. It is now planning to establish a local manufacturing plant, thereby creating 68 new direct jobs plus about 30 indirect jobs initially and more jobs later. Current imports will be replaced by the locallymanufactured product for South Africa and the southern African markets. The existing rebate provisions for materials for disposable diapers need to be amended as in some minor respects they do not cover specialised materials. Application is also made for two additional rebate provisions. This tariff application replaces the application that was published in the Government Gazette of 28 March 2 008, on which comment was due by this afternoon. Amendment of the description relating to the rebate item for worn clothing and other worn articles of textile material at such times as the International Trade Administration Commission may allow by specific permit, for the recovery of fibres, or for the manufacture of wiping rags and cleaning cloths. Comments due by 20 June 2 008.
