New Customs Acts - final round

Customs experts across the country
are gearing up for the final round of
the review of the rules and regulations
guiding the country’s new laws.
The first stage of implementation
of the three much talked about new
customs acts is expected to begin in
August this year so the clock is ticking
to finalise the rules and regulations.
With industry having already
commented on all the rules, the
South African Revenue Service in
late December published a re-draft
of the entire set of rules covering all
three acts with all the changes and
amendments made.
One Cape Town clearing agent who
has been following the process said
this was extremely valuable to the
industry as it allowed one to see the
full set of rules as it will be presented.
“One can now read the document in
its entirety,” he said.
A second draft was also distributed
in which all the amendments that had
been made were highlighted.
“Again very valuable taking the
complexity of these documents
into consideration,” said the agent.
“This allows industry to see what
changes have been accepted and
incorporated into the document and
which suggested changes were not
accepted.”
Industry now has until April 1
to make any final comments and
suggestions after which one final
workshop hosted by Sars will take
place. It is commonly accepted
that after this no further input will
be made and that the rules and
regulations as they stand will be
implemented.
Various organisations have
put together working groups that
will go through the rules one last
time making final comments and
suggestions.
Mike Walwyn, chairman of the
Cape Port Liaison Forum, said it was
essential that industry take the time
to peruse the rules and regulations
one last time.
“This is the last chance for any
significant changes to be effected,”
he said.