The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) World ATA Carnet Council, national chambers of commerce and industry and customs participants celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the ATA Carnet during meetings of the ATA/Istanbul Convention Administrative Committee, held at the World Customs Organisation (WCO), in Brussels, Belgium, on March 24. The ‘ATA’ acronym is derived from the French and English phrases ‘Admission Temporaire/ Temporary Admission’. Carnets (pronounced kar-nay), commonly known as merchandise passports, are international customs documents that simplify customs procedures for the temporary importation of various types of goods.

The ATA Carnet is an international customs document that permits the duty-free and tax- free temporary export and import of goods, eliminating the need for customs declaration at border points and the deposit of a guarantee, bond or cash in the country of temporary importation. It can be used for a trip covering more than one country and including numerous exits and re-entries into the country of origin during the period of validity of the document for up to one year.

ATA Carnets cover commercial samples, professional equipment and goods for presentation or use at trade fairs, shows, exhibitions and the like – almost anything that you can name, provided that it is not consumable or perishable.

The ATA Carnet is composed of front and back covers and includes two sheets for presentation at each foreign country one is visiting and two sheets for presentation to customs when leaving and returning to South Africa. One sheet is given to the foreign customs officials when one enters their country and the other when one exists. The same applies when exiting and entering South Africa.

Armed with an ATA Carnet, one can make advance customs arrangements at a predetermined cost, visit several countries, use the ATA Carnet for several trips during its one-year validity and return to South Africa with the goods without problems or delays.

According to the ICC, the ATA Carnet is a prime example of successful customs-business partnerships for promoting trade and investment. In addition, this partnership is instrumental in the implementation of the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) agreement on trade facilitation’s article on temporary admission.

There are substantial economic benefits to be gained from the temporary admissions of goods. The ATA Carnet system, which is based on the Istanbul Convention as well as the ATA Convention, is one of the most important internationally accepted systems for the movement of goods under temporary admission through multiple customs territories.

The administrative committee discussed various issues to improve the effectiveness of the ATA Carnet system, including the development of a paperless ATA Carnet using the globally networked customs concept to further facilitate trade. The administrative committee reaffirmed that cooperation between customs administrations and issuing/guaranteeing associations is vital to enhance the effectiveness of the ATA Carnet system.

The ATA system is currently in force in 73 countries. Those interested in making use of the ATA Carnet system should contact the South African agent, the Carnet department at the South African Commerce and Industry (Sacci), by email (ata@sacci.org.za). The email should be marked for the attention of Glennalee Hayselden and Samuel Mothibeli. One does not have to be a member of Sacci to make use of the ATA Carnet.

Graphite Electrodes Dumping
The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) informed on March 28 of the termination of the investigation into the alleged dumping of graphite electrodes for use in furnaces originating in or imported from the People’s Republic of China and India, pursuant to Notice No 1128 of 2013 in Government Gazette No 37037. It should be Notice No 1130.

The application was lodged by GrafTech South Africa, the sole manufacturer of the product in the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu). On February 6, Itac received a letter from GrafTEch informing of its decision to cease its operations, requesting that the antidumping investigation be terminated. This explains the tariff application of March 20 for the proposed reduction in the ‘general’ rate of customs duty on graphite electrodes, on which comment was due by April 17.

Tariff Amendments
On March 28, the South African Revenue Service (Sars) informed of the following tariff amendments, effective April 2, which were announced by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in his 2014 Budget Review: Schedule No 6, Part 3, of the Customs and Excise Act, dealing with the implementation of the adjusted diesel concessions; Schedule No 1, Part 5B, of the Act, which increases the Road Accident Fund levy on petrol and diesel from 96c/ℓ to 104c/ℓ respectively; and Schedule No 1, Part 5A, of the Act, which increases the fuel levy on petrol and diesel from 212.5c/ℓ to 224,5c/ℓ and 197.5c/ℓ to 209.5c/ℓ respectively. The levy on biodiesel is 104.75c/ℓ.

Import Chicken Levy
The National Agricultural Marketing Council, in terms of the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act, has informed that the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has received a request from the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters for the establishment of statutory measures relating to levies, registration, the keeping of records and the rendering of returns.
Comments are due by April 11.

Stranded Wire Tariff
Itac has informed of the proposed reduction in the ‘general’ rate of customs duty on stranded wire, or wire, from 5% ad valorem to free of duty, through the creation of an additional eight-digit tariff subheading. Comment is due by April 17.

Herbs Vat
On March 27, Sars published a value-added tax (Vat) draft binding general ruling (DBGR) on the treatment of the supply and importation of herbs. Comment is due by May 31.

Fruit and Vegetables Vat
On March 19, Sars published a Vat DBGR on the treatment of the supply and importation of fruit and vegetables. Comment is due by May 15.

Vat on Imported Potatoes
A Vat DBGR on the treatment of the supply and importation of various types of frozen potato products was published by Sars on March 12. Comment is due by May 15