Customs

Peanut butter ‘General’ customs duty increase

On 24 July 2026, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) announced an increase in the ‘General’ rate of customs duty in Part 1 of Schedule No 1 of the Customs and Excise Act, 1964 (Ordinary Customs Duty) on ‘peanut butter’, classifiable in tariff subheadings 2008.11.11, 2008.11.15 and 2008.11.19, from 0.99c/kg to 20% ad valorem

The reasoning is articulated in the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) Report No. 652, which is accessible at: https://itac.org.za/wp-content/uploads/Report-652.pdf

The tariff subheading:

20 Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants

2008 Fruit, nuts and other edible parts of plants, otherwise prepared or preserved, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or spirit, not elsewhere specified or included:

2008.1 Nuts, ground-nuts and other seeds, whether or not mixed together

2008.11 Ground-nuts:

2008.11.1 Peanut butter:

2008.11.11 Smooth, put up in packaging for retail sale

2008.11.15 Other, put up in packaging for retail sale

2008.11.19 Other

SA Customs Buzz