DUTY CALLS

Sugar Variable Tariff
On 16 September the
South African Revenue
Service (Sars) announced
the third sugar variable
tariff amendment for 2016.
On 11 April the rates of
customs duty were reduced
from 245.4c/kg to 239.5c/
kg, in accordance with
the International Trade
Administration Commission
of South Africa (Itac) minute
M11/2015, and on 05 August
it reduced from 239.5c/kg to
144.33c/kg, in accordance
with Itac minute 03/2016.
The latest tariff
amendment is to reduce the
rates of customs duty on
tariff subheadings 1701.12
(beet sugar), 1701.13 (cane
sugar specified in subheading
note 2 to this chapter),
1701.14 (other cane sugar),
1701.91 (containing added
flavouring or colouring
matter), and 1701.99 (other)
from 144.33c/kg to 31.89c/
kg in accordance with Itac
minute M05/2016.
This would imply that the
international sugar price has
been steadily increasing in
2016.
Customs-Police
Cooperation with
Europol
The WCO, at the invitation
of Europol and the Slovak
presidency of the Council
of the European Union
(EU), attended the Europol
meetings held at Europol
headquarters in The
Netherlands, on September
14-15.
The meeting explored
ways to enhance
cooperation and
information sharing
between customs and
police, drawing on recent
operations and initiatives
by some national Customs
administrations and the
European Commission.
According to the WCO,
the Europol meeting was
a positive step towards
improved cooperation
between the two
organisations aimed at
enhancing border security.
C&A Compliance
Commitments
In an effort to assist
you in monitoring Sars’
progress with its 18 (xviii)
“Increased Customs
and Excise Compliance
Commitments”, the
September 2016
commitments follow.
“Improve control over
the f low of all goods and
travellers entering and
leaving the country” -
(i) Deploy the new manifest
processing system to
replace the manifest
acquittal system in line
with new international
cargo reporting and cargo
management standards
by September 2016.
“Modernise and align
Excise processes and
systems” - (x) Conclude
the study that considers
the introduction of a
track-and-trace system
with the cigarette industry
and replace the old
diamond stamp, in line
with the World Health
Organisation Convention
for Tobacco Control, by
the end of September
2016. “Continue to adopt
a whole-of-government
approach to improving
border management” -
(xvii) Continue to fight
against the illicit trade and
abuse of illegal substances
by supporting the National
Drug Master Plan. Sars
will develop and approve a
Departmental Drug Plan
by the end of September
2016.
Duty Calls Watch List
Comment is due by 23
September 2016 on: (i) the
reduction in the “general”
rate of customs duty on
compound containing
an unfused triazine ring
instructure: Atrazine;
(ii) a provision for the
manufacture of electric
blankets; and (iii) the
amendment of rebate item
320.01 for goods used
in the manufacture of
furniture products.