Indirect Tax Summit South African Institute of Tax Professional (SAIT) will be hosting an Indirect Tax Summit (customs duty, excise duty, and Valueadded Tax (VAT)) from 12 to 15 November 2013 in Johannesburg. The Summit will include workshops on Customs Valuation and Transfer Pricing, and Tariff Classification. Citrus Black Spot The South African citrus industry ended their exporting season prematurely, specifically for citrus from CBS areas. This follows the European Union (EU) interception of 10 consignments of CBS infected oranges. The EU, earlier this year, warned South Africa that a total of five (5) CBS interceptions could result in the EU form restricting South Africa’s exports. According to the Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa, South Africa exported more than 570,000 tonnes of citrus to the EU this year. WCO Career Development Programme The 2013/2014 World Customs Organisation (WCO) Career Development Programme commenced in Brussels at WCO Headquarters on 18 September 2013. The Programme has the following aims: to enable participants to obtain knowledge, skills and international work experience; to develop and enhance networks between WCO members and the WCO Secretariat; to support and assist the WCO Secretariat in its mission and work; and to develop a pool of highly competent customs experts in WCO member administrations. Seven customs officials from Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mozambique and Yemen will be working at the WCO Secretariat over the next 10 months in various professional capacities. WCO Deputy Secretary General Sergio Monica expressed his expectation that they will gain knowledge, skills and international work experience. Duty Calls’ Watch List Comments on the tariff applications listed below are due by 18 October 2013. The proposed increase in the domestic dollar-based reference price (DBRP) for sugar, classifiable in tariff heading 17.01 from U$358/ton to US$764/ton through an adjustment of the calculation of the DBRP for sugar by basing it on the domestic cost of production. The proposed increase in the allocation of quota for the importation of used overcoats under Rebate Item 460.11/00.00/01.00 for 2014. The invitation is to comment on the request by the Association of Importers of Worn Overcoats (AIWO) for a 30% increase in the level of quota for 2014 regarding applications in terms of the provision sunder Rebate Item 460.11/00.00/01.00 for permits for partial rebate of the full rate of customs duty less 30% ad valorem on used overcoats. The proposed rebate of the full customs duty on other pile fabrics, knitted or crocheted, of man-made fibres, classifiable in tariff subheading 6001.92, for the manufacture of footwear with uppers of textile materials, classifiable in Chapter 64. The proposed withdrawal of the application for an increase in the rate of customs duty on biaxially oriented polypropylene, classifiable in tariff subheading 3920.20.25 and 3920.20.30, from a rate of customs duty of 10% ad valorem to 20% ad valorem.
