Since the official launch of South Africa’s Preferred Trader Programme (PTP) by Sars Commissioner Tom Moyane in May 2017, 55 accredited clients have been awarded Preferred Trader (PT) status nationally.
The accredited clients have been assigned a Customs & Excise Relationship Manager (CRM) who is responsible for facilitating the relationship between the South African Revenue Service (Sars) and the clients. The Accreditation Review Customs Committee has been meeting regularly and ensuring that the PT status is awarded only to clients who qualify and meet the compliance requirements of Sars, according to a spokesman.
Accreditation is an advanced programme which forms a partnership between Sars and those clients who have an appropriate record of compliance and financial stability, and who maintain a high quality of internal operational processes and computer systems. In return, Sars Customs offers certain benefits to these clients.
Sars’ PT unit is actively involved in the development of a Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) Accreditation Programme and a Mutual Recognition Agreement with Sacu member states. The current Customs and Excise Act of 1964, Rule 64E is being amended and will be published to include benefits to Sacu states.
In addition, the PT unit is developing strategic documentation regarding the implementation of an Approved Economic Operator (AEO) level 3 accreditation status in line with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards implemented in 2005.
