Tariff amendments On 12 July the South African Revenue Service (Sars) announced the following tariff amendments: (i) The substitution of rebate item 311.40/5208.4/01.05 to include boxer shorts, classifiable in tariff headings 62.07 and 62.08, as part of the manufactured products. (ii) The insertion of tariff subheading 8708.50.30 to reduce the “General” rate of customs duty on constantvelocity (CV) joints from 20% ad valorem to free of duty. (iii) The deletion of tariff subheading 7317.00.10 and the insertion of tariff subheading 7317.00.02, 7317.00.04 and 7317.00.06 and the increase of the “General” rate of customs duty on wire nail from 5% ad valorem to 15% ad valorem. (iv) Insertion of rebate item 315.03/7616.99/01.06 to provide for aluminium slugs for impact extrusion used in the manufacture of aerosol cans. Rule amendment On 11 July an amendment to the Rules to the Customs and Excise Act was published in respect of new provisions for the enablement of efiling for excise duty, fuel levy, Road Accident Fund (RAF) levy and environmental levy accounts. Illuminating Kerosene Draft Rules Sars has published the proposed substitution of paragraph (f) in the Additional Note 1 to Chapter 27 relating to the requirements for illuminating kerosene on which comments are due by 05 August 2013. The proposed substitution reads “(f) “illuminating kerosene”, being products intended for use, advertised for use, put for use or otherwise marketed or disposed of for use as fuel illuminating or heating distillation: Final boiling point not exceeding 280˚C, Flash Point (IP170): Minimum 38˚C, Smoke Point: Minimum 23 mm”. Rules of use for Rooibos In a Government Gazette dated 12 July 2013 the Minister of Trade and Industry, in terms of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1941, gave notice that the South African Rooibos Council (SARC) had conveyed a request for the prohibition of the use of the words Rooibos, Red Bush, Rooibostee, Roobos Tea (possibly misspelt), Rooitee, and Rooibosch. The use of the words is prohibited in connection with any trade, business, profession or occupation or in connection with a trade mark, mark or trade description applied to goods other than the use thereof by SARC members or any other party in accordance with the “Rules of Use for Rooibos”, published as an annexure to the notice. Interested persons are invited to provide their comments on the matter to the Registrar of Trade Marks by no later than August 12, 2013. Duty Calls’ Watch List Comments by the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) industry indicating that the expiry of the trade remedy duties would be likely to lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping, subsidise exports or injury are due by 29 July 2013 in respect of wire ropes (7312.10); gypsum plaster board (6809.11) and stainless steel sinks (7324.10) imported from or originating in China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Malaysia Republic of Korea, Thailand and the United Kingdom. Comments on the Draft Taxation Laws Amendment Bill and Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill are due by 05 August 2013.
