On 31 October Sars released its 23-page, “Registration, Licensing and Designation - External Policy”, effective on 01 November.
The policy deals with the types of clients required to be registered, namely (i) Automotive Production Development Programme (APDP); (ii) Approved exporters; (iii) Cargo reporter; (iv) Electronic communication with Sars; (v) Exporters (local or foreign including continuous transmission commodities); (vi) Importers (local or foreign including continuous transmission commodities); (vii) Special Economic Zone (SEZ) operators, designated Customs controlled areas within an SEZ; (viii) Manufacturers in terms of Drawback Items 501.00 to 521.00 to the Act; (ix) Producers for preferential trade agreements and Generalised System of Preference (GSP); and (x) Rebate users in terms of Schedule 3, 4 and 6 to the Act; and (xi) Registered agents in terms of Rule 59A.01 to the Act.
In addition, the document deals with types of clients, premises or facilities required to be licensed: (i) Carriers - removers of goods in bond (local or foreign); (ii) Clearing agents; (iii) Depots: container and degrouping; (iv) Customs warehouses: (A) Storage warehouses (OS) including Customs controlled area enterprises; (B) Manufacturing warehouses including Customs controlled area enterprises; (C) Special storage warehouses (SOS): (I) Storage of local manufactured and /or imported goods for supplies to foreign going aircraft or vessels as stores, spares and equipment; (II) Inbound and / or outbound duty and tax free shops; and (III) Storage of imported second hand motor vehicles; and (D) Stockist warehouses. (v) Search abandoned wrecks or for abandoned wrecks (Searcher).
Designation of a portion of the SEZ landmass as a Customs controlled area is also covered.
Registration to participate in the deferments scheme is also discussed.
The following are not covered in this policy: (i) Surety / guarantees (increase / decrease); (ii) Supporting documents, see ECS-LER-01-A02; (iii) Designations other than terminals and SEZ or Customs controlled area related activities; (iv) The legal entity registration which must precede registration, licensing or designation; (v) Accreditation, see SC-CF-27; (vi) Completion of the application form(s); (vii) Use of invoice declaration by Approved Exporters in terms of the SADC-EPA Agreement; and (viii) Management of deferments.