Duty Calls

R2.8 million Sneakers
Seizure
The South African Revenue
Service (Sars) on 18 April
announced that Customs
had, over the Easter
weekend at OR Tambo
International Airport,
made a ‘significant seizure’
of suspected counterfeit
sneakers ‘to the value of
R2.8 million’.
According to the
notification the
consignment, weighing
956kg, comprised ‘over’
2 380 sneakers ‘worth
almost R2.8 million’,
originating from Hong
Kong. The sneakers
were to be handed
over to the intellectual
property attorneys of the
brand holder to explore
possibilities for criminal
prosecution. The name of
the brand holder was not
mentioned.
Printing Ribbons Duty
Reduction
On 28 April the
International Trade
Administration
Commission of South
Africa (Itac) announced
the proposed reduction
in the ‘general’ rate of
customs duty on thermal
transfer printing ribbons
in cartridges, classifiable in
tariff subheading 9612.10,
from 15% ad valorem to free
of customs duty, through
the creation of a separate
8-digit tariff subheading.
Comment is due by 26 May.
Temporary Structural
Steel Rebate
Itac on 28 April announced
the creation of temporary
rebate facilities (rebate
items) on structural steel
in the form of U, I, H and
L sections, of other alloy
steel, not further worked
than hot-rolled, hot- drawn
or extruded, of a height of
80mm or more, classifiable
in tariff subheadings
7228.70 and 7216.40.
Comment is due by 26 May.
Customs RLD External
Policy
The Customs External
Policy Registration,
Licensing and Designation,
effective from 30 March,
has been published. The
policy deals with, amongst
others, the types of clients
required to be registered,
the Automotive Production
Development Programme,
approved exporters,
electronic communication
with Sars, exporters,
manufacturers in terms of
drawback items 501.00 to
521.00, and rebate users in
terms of schedules no 3, 4
and 6.
Tobacco
The Excise External Policy
for Tobacco, which is
effective 06 April, applies
to role-players in the
tobacco industry.
Beer
The Excise External Policy
Beer, which is effective
from 31 March, applies to
role-players in the industry.
Traditional African
Beer
The Excise External Policy
Traditional African Beer,
which is effective from 31
March, applies to roleplayers
in the industry.
Spirits
The Excise External Policy
Spirits, which is effective
from 30 March, applies to
role-players in the industry.
Wine and Vermouth
The Excise External Policy
Wine and Vermouth, which
is effective from 30 March,
applies to role-players in the
industry.
Other Fermented
Beverages
The Excise External Policy
Other Fermented Beverages,
which is effective from 30
March, applies to roleplayers
in the industry.
Duty Calls Watch List
Comment on National
Treasury’s diesel fuel tax
refund system is due by 15
May.