Bulk Wine Draft Rule Amendment On 03 September 2013 the South African Revenue Service (Sars) published the draft Rules to the Customs and Excise Act (Act) for the insertion of Rule 35.06 to provide for the removal of, and the placing of certain restrictions on, the removal of wine in bulk by a licensee of a customs and excise warehouse or special customs and excise warehouse in which wine is manufactured in terms of Sections 35 and 64 of the Act respectively. The proposed Rule reads “35.06(a) A licensee of a customs and excise warehouse or special customs and excise warehouse in which wine is manufactured may only remove, or permit the removal, of wine in bulk – (i) to the licensee of another such warehouse; (ii) to the licensee of a special customs and excise storage warehouse licensed for the storage of wine for export; or (iii) for direct export from that warehouse. (b) For the purposes of paragraph (a),”wine in bulk” means wine not in normal packaging for sale by retail.” Comment due by 18 September 2013. Frozen Potato Chips – Safeguard Amendment On 06 September 2013 Sars published an amendment to the provisional payment imposed on 05 July 2013 (for tariff subheading 2004.10.90) to now reflect a new tariff subheading 2004.10.20 for frozen potato chips or French fries with retrospective effect from 16 August 2013. Tariff Application Correction On 06 September 2013 the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) published a correction notice (original notice published on 23 August 2013), amending the tariff subheading for heat exchange units from tariff subheading 8419.40 to 8419.50. Comments due by 04 October 2013. Sacu Tariff Board Tender The Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) published a tender for an expert assessment of the current architecture and modus operandi for establishing and operationalising Member States’ National Bodies and the Sacu Tariff Board. The tender closes on 24 September 2013 at 11:00 (Namibian time). Rooibos – Prohibited Words On 06 September 2013 the Minister of Trade and Industry published the final prohibition of the use of certain words, namely rooibos, red bush, rooibostee, rooibos tea, rooitea, and rooibosch in terms of the Merchandise Marks Act. Scrap Metal – Correction Notice On 06 September 2013 the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) published amendments to the Government Gazette notice published on 02 August 2013. The notice relates to (i) “4.2(b) Deduct 20% from $1900 = $380 = $1520/t.”, (ii) “(5) ... the Copper Development Association Africa, the Non-Ferrous Metal Industries Association, the International Zinc Association ...”, and (iii) “(7) ... referred to in 6 above ...”. Duty Calls’ Watch List Comment is due by 13 September 2013 for the draft substitution of Note 6(ij)(ii) (aa)C in Schedule No. 6 Part 3 to the Act to provide clarity in the interpretation of eligible commercial fishing permit holders.
