Itac on 15 December 2016 invited comment by 12 January on the creation of a rebate item for bangles, classifiable in tariff subheading 7117.19, for the manufacture of imitation jewellery incorporating leather, classifiable in tariff subheading 7117.19.
The application was lodged by Zawad Gems and Curios CC who reasoned that:
I. The company cannot sell metal blanks as jewellery of any nature as they are incomplete. They are purely blank zinc components and should not be considered as jewellery in this state. The value added in the processing of this jewellery plus packaging is approximately 56 per cent and the value of the blanks amount to 44 per cent of the total production.
II. The company currently employs four employees directly involved in the manufacturing and quality control process of the subject product with the possibility of more employment in the near future should the rebate be granted.
III. Locally sourced materials such as ostrich leather, glues and other chemicals are used in the production of the final product.
IV. The subject product cannot be made competitively in South Africa and must be imported.