Tax Administration Laws Amendment Act, 2013 On 16 January 2014 the Tax Administration Laws Amendment Act, 2013 was published. It was signed by the President on 14 January 2014 and will come into operation on a date determined by the President by proclamation in the Government Gazette. Of interest from a customs and excise perspective is that the proposed amendments relate to Section 4 “General duties and powers of officers”, Section 21A “Provisions for administration of customs controlled areas within industrial development zones and special economic zones” (proposed new heading), Section 64E and Section 119A. You will recall that Section 4 was the subject of a Constitutional Court judgement, released on 14 November 2013. More detailed information in this week’s issue of Customs Buzz. TDCA Export Permits In a 17-page Government Gazette dated 21 January 2014 the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) published the “Procedures for the application, administration and allocation of export permits under the Trade, Development and Co-operation Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of South Africa”. The products for which the export permits apply are cut flowers, fruits and nuts (strawberries, pears, apricots, peaches, fruit mixtures), fruit juices (pineapple juice, apple juice) and wines. WTO Import Permits In a 22-page Government Gazette dated 21 January 2014 DAFF published its “Application for Market Access Permits for Agricultural products”. It covers a range of products such as meat, milk and cream, buttermilk, whey, butter, cheese, eggs, vegetables (fresh and dried), fruit (dried), wheat and meslin, maize, buckwheat, malt extract, pasta, food preparations, wine, spirits, unmanufactured tobacco and cotton. Frozen Potato Chips Safeguard Against all expectations, a Government Gazette notice or other has yet to follow the frozen potato chips provisional safeguard measure that was imposed up to and including 20 January 2014. Duty Calls’ Watch List The anti-dumping and countervailing measures on wire ropes and cables imported from or originating in Germany, India, Korea (South), People’s Republic of China and the United Kingdom are set to expire on 12 February 2014 unless Sunset Review investigations are initiated. Comment on the Promotion and Protection of Investment Bill, 2013 is due by 01 February 2014. TWiT “This Week in Trade” considers the period 25-31 January. 25 January 2000, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Trade Protocol enters into force. 26 January 1953, the first session of the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC), commonly known as the World Customs Organisation or WCO, is held. This day has since been celebrated as Customs Day. 26 January 2010, public comment on the draft Customs Control Bill and draft Customs Duty Bill (the Bills) is due. 28 January 2014 the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance (SCoF) holds oral hearings on the Bills.
