Our first column of 2014 will focus on the developments since our final column of 2013. WTO Safeguard Notification On 16 December 2013 the Committee on Safeguards of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) gave notification of South Africa’s intention to impose a final safeguard on frozen potato chips. The notice indicates that it “will come into effect in mid January”. Based on the Government Gazette notice of the imposition of the provisional payment (provisional safeguard) it needs to be imposed by no later than 20 January 2014. Provisional Dumping Payments On 20 December 2013 the South African Revenue Service (Sars) imposed provisional payments (anti-dumping duties) on frozen potato chips originating in or imported from Belgium and The Netherlands, and disodium carbonate (soda ash) originating in or imported from the United States of America (USA). The payments are imposed up to and including 20 June 2014. 2014 Tariff Questionnaires The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) will only accept submissions on its new tariff amendment investigation questionnaires (increase, reduction and rebate). 2014 Tariff Amendments The introduction of two new 8-digit tariff subheadings for salt, classifiable in tariff subheadings 2501.00.10 and 2501.00.90, the tariff phase down of the “Efta” (European Free Trade Association) rate of customs duties, and the reduction in the “General” rate of customs duty on paper and paperboard, classifiable in tariff subheading 4811.41.90. 2013 Rule Amendments On 27 December 2013 Sars published amendments to traveller rules (section 15 of the Act) - TC-01 Traveller Card, TRD1 - Travellers Declaration) and deletion of form DA 331 (Traveller Declaration). On 19 December 2013 Sars published the amendment to the rules (section 119A of the Act) on excise accounts and returns that must be submitted via eFiling, and the substitution of all DA 260 Excise Accounts as a result of modernisation. On 12 December 2013 Sars published the substitution Form DA185.4B1, the Diamond Export Levy Rules amended and Diamond Levy Forms substituted (there are different implementation dates). On 12 December 2013 Sars published four notices relating to amendments to Schedule No. 6 of the Act made in respect of distillate fuels used by the farming sector, diesel refunds relating to farming and to mining activities WTO TBT Notification On 11 December 2013 the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade of the WTO gave notification of South Africa’s intention to regulate the control over the sale of poultry meat. The purpose of the amendment to the existing regulations is to provide for the injection (treatment) of poultry with brine mixtures, to set the levels of injection, and to provide for labelling and consumer information.
