Disabled Persons Rebate
On 1 June the South African Revenue Service (Sars) announced the substitution of rebate items 405.04/00.00/01.00 and 405.04/00.00/02.00 in Part 1 of Schedule No 4 of the Customs and Excise Act, 1964 [General Rebates of Customs Duties, Fuel Levy and Environmental Levy: Specific Rebates of Customs Duties] to review the wording which provides for goods for disabled persons or for the upliftment of indigent persons. The reasoning for the amendment can be found in the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) minute 15/2017. It took quite some time for the amendment to be introduced, considering that in last week’s column, Itac minute 04/2018 was published. Rebate item 405.04/00.00/01.00 “Goods (excluding motor vehicles) specially designed for use by persons with disabilities, subject to the production of a certificate from an official of the South African National Council for the Blind, the Deaf Federation of South Africa, the South African Federation for Mental Health, the National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities in South Africa or Epilepsy South Africa or of a body which is affiliated to the Council, federation or league concerned, or a certificate from a registered medical practitioner, that such goods are for use exclusively by such persons with disabilities, such certificate being endorsed by the International Trade Administration Commission that such or similar goods are not ordinarily nor satisfactorily made in the Republic.” The extent of the rebate is full duty. Rebate item 405.04/00.00/02.00 “Machines, implements and materials for use in the manufacture of goods by persons with disabilities, subject to the production of a certificate from an official of the South African National Council for the Blind, the Deaf Federation of South Africa, the National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities in South Africa, or Epilepsy South Africa or a body which is affiliated to the Council, Federation or League concerned, or a certificate from a registered medical practitioner, that such machines, implements and materials are for the exclusive use by such persons with disabilities, such certificate being endorsed by the International Trade Administration Commission that such or similar goods are not ordinarily nor satisfactorily manufactured in the Republic.” The extent of the rebate is full duty.
WTO issues 2018 Annual Report
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) published its 2018 Annual Report on 31 May, providing a comprehensive account of its activities in 2017 and early 2018. The report opens with a message from WTO director-general Roberto Azevêdo and a brief overview of the year. The report also includes “spotlights” highlighting major WTO events and activities, including the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference held in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
WCO and SADC Talk Trade Facilitation
The World Customs Organisation (WCO) attended the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) secretariat’s subcommittees on customs and trade facilitation from 21 to 23 May in Botswana.
Duty Calls’ Watchlist
Comment is due on the safeguard investigation on screws fully threaded with hexagon heads by 20 June; and the anti-dumping sunset review on unframed glass mirrors by 18 June.
