On February 10, the South African Revenue Service (Sars) informed of the imposition of a provisional payment on the frozen meat of fowls of the species gallus domesticus, whole birds and boneless cuts, classifiable under tariff subheadings 0207.12.90 and 0207.14.10, originating in or imported from Brazil.

The provisional payment is effective for six months, from February 10 to August 10.

The rates of provisional payments are 62.93% (0207.12.90), and 6.26% and 46.59% (0207.14.10), the latter depending on the company of manufacture in Brazil. Interested parties can review and comment on the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa report, which details the arguments and findings.

SEZ Public Participation Workshops
In an earlier instalment of this column, I informed that public comment on the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Bill of 2011 (Policy on the Development of Special Economic Zones in South Africa – 2012) is due on March 22.

The policy document consists of four sections, namely an introduction, key elements of the SEZs policy, implementation of the SEZ programme and a conclusion.

According to the executive summary of the document, an SEZ is defined as “a geographically designated area of a country set aside for specifically targeted economic activities, which are then supported through special arrangements (which may include laws) and support systems to promote industrial development”. The SEZ programme is a tool that is used by many economies to promote trade, economic growth and industrialisation.

On February 10, the Department of Trade and Industry extended an invitation to interested parties to attend SEZ public participation workshops. Some of the workshops have already taken place, namely on February 14, KwaZulu-Natal (Durban); February 15, Mpumalanga (Nelspruit); February 20, Eastern Cape (East London); February 21, Western Cape (Cape Town); and February 23, the Free State (Bloemfontein). Further workshops have been scheduled for February 24, for the Northern Cape (Kimberley); February 28, for the North West (Mafikeng); March 1, for Limpopo; and March 8, for Gauteng (Pretoria).

Foreign Principals, Agents
On February 9, 2011, the South African Revenue Service published amendments to the rules (and forms) of the Customs and Excise Act. The amendments relate to foreign principal and agent registrations.

The rules in question are Rule 00.07 (investigations conducted in respect of applications for registration or licensing); Rule 59A01 (definitions and application for registration); Rule 59A.03(1) (persons who must and may apply for registration); Rule 60.30(2) (persons who may apply for a licence); Rule 64D.01(1.3) (obligation to licence and application for a licence); Rule 64D.03(1); Rule 64D.04(1) (exemption from the removal of goods by a licensed remover of goods in bond); Rule 64D.05(4) (goods that must be carried by a licensed remover of goods in bond); Rule 64D.10(5) (security and bonds for security); Rule 64D.15(9) (keeping of books, accounts and documents); Rule 101A.01 (electronic communication for the purpose of customs and excise procedures); Rule 101A.01A(2) (mandatory electronic communication of reports and declarations); Rule 119A.S64B(1)(a); and Rule 119A.S64D(1).

The forms are DA185 (application form: registration/licensing of customs and excise clients); annexure DA185.4A1 (registering client type 4A1 – importer [local or foreign]); Annexure DA185.4A2 (registering client type 4A2 (exporter [local or foreign]); annexure DA185.4A13 (registration client type 4A13 – registered agent); annexure DA185.4B6 (licensing client type 4B6 – removal of goods in bond [local or foreign]); annexure DA185C; and DA185D (nomination of registered agent).

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