Sars accreditation gains momentum as 500 agents make the cut

The development of an
Authorised Trader (AT)
Mutual Recognition
Programme within the SA
Customs Union region that
will give South African
exporters with accredited
status facilitation benefits
on their imports to the
BLNS countries, and viceversa
is on the cards.
That’s the word from
South African Revenue
Service which aims to
build a full Authorised
Economic Operator (AEO)
programme in alignment
with the World Customs
Organisation’s SAFE
Framework of Standards,
which makes provision
for safety and security
provisions to be added to the
AT requirement.
The programme also
extends to include Customs
supply chain operators –
which is necessary to enable
South African exporters
with AT/AEO status to
benefit from Mutual
Recognition with “major
trading partners”.
At least 500 companies
have already been awarded
accredited trader status.
While no certificates have
yet been issued to verify this,
the companies in question
are already benefiting under
the programme that will
only officially kick in once
South Africa’s new customs
legislation comes into effect.
In the past few months
hundreds of companies have
been audited by Sars to
determine their compliance
with the accredited trader
programme (ATP) – and
just over 500 are believed
to have complied fully. It
is not known exactly how
many businesses have
participated in the process.
FTW understands that in
Cape Town more than 100
companies were audited but
only about 30 made the final
cut.
According to a customs
spokesman, significant work
has been done with regard
to the programme which
is aimed at improved trade
facilitation in the long run.
Mike Walwyn, chairman
of the Port Liaison Forum
in Cape Town, says
initial pessimism over
the programme is fast
dissipating as companies
begin to see some of
the benefits of being
accredited.
“Possibly the greatest
benefit is the enhanced
relationship between
the company and Sars.
There is no doubt that
in working more closely
with Sars there are fewer
errors and fewer customs
interventions,” he said.
“These traders – once
accredited and on the
programme – will be
expedited through the
system with quicker
processing and less
intervention. The longterm
benefits of taking
part in such a programme
should be taken into
consideration.”
He said it was advisable
for companies – or their
agents – to look into the
programme.
Walwyn said customs
officials had given an
in-depth presentation of
the programme to PLF
members explaining what
benefits could already
be gained ahead of the
issuing of certificates.
“And once the new
customs control act comes
into effect they stand
to receive considerable
additional benefits. It is
important for industry to
work with customs as this
programme is of
great importance.”