In last week’s instalment of this column, I dealt with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Harmonised System 2012 tariff amendments of Section VI, that is, products of the chemicals or allied industries. Section VI consists of 11 tariff chapters that will be introduced on January 1, 2012, to the Harmonised System Nomenclature, also known as the South African Tariff Book.

This week, I will focus on the tariff amendments to Section VII, that is, plastics and articles thereof, and rubber and articles thereof. Section VI consists of two tariff chapters: Tariff Chapter (plastics and articles thereof) and Tariff Chapter 40 (rubber and articles thereof).

The first section deals with tariff subheadings to be deleted. Both tariff chapters are not affected. The second section deals with tariff subheadings to be created (new). Both tariff chapters are not affected. The third section deals with tariff subheadings whose scope will be modified, which only affects Tariff Chapter 39. The scope will be modified for Tariff Chapters 3907.20, 3913.90, 3926.20, and 3926.90.

Customs Modernisation Release 2 – Update
On August 18, the South African Revenue Service (Sars) released a letter titled ‘Go-live of Release 2 at KSIA, Richards Bay, Port Elizabeth, PEIA, East London and CTIA’. According to the letter, it would be all systems go for the implementation of Customs Moder- nisation Release 2 at King Shaka International Airport, Richards Bay, Port Elizabeth, Port Elizabeth International Airport, Cape Town International Airport and East London on the weekend of August 19 and 20.
Traders are advised to make use of free software provided by service providers, called e@syScan, which will enable them to submit documents speedily from the comfort of their home or office computer. Traders will also be able to bring supporting documents to either of these centres.

Sars also urges its clients to check with their bureaus or service providers that their software is up to date. Further, if there are any issues during ‘go-live’, clients must contact their bureau service providers first to check whether the problem lies on their side. However, if there are any operational issues that need to be dealt with urgently, Sars has made available, on the Customs Modernisation website, http://www.sars.gov.za/home.asp?pid=60547, an escalation process to be followed in each of the three branches during and after the implementation period. Sars has also reminded clients to make use of this website if they need any information on customs modernisation as well as all the relevant letters, guides, charts and other documents, which can be found on the site.

Sars informed that, for all operational queries during the implementation period of Customs Modernisation Release 2, the follow- ing escalation process should be followed: Firstly, call or mail the branch contact person. If you get no response to your query, contact the branch manager, and then the regional executive and, finally, the group executive.

For ease of reference, the branch managers’ details are provided: Port Elizabeth/Port Elizabeth Airport, Johann Scheepers – Jscheepers@sars.gov.za, 083 561-5140 or 041 503-0303; East London, Leon Cilliers – Lcilliers@sars.gov.za, 082 778 9745 or 043 711-2116; King Shaka Airport, Yogi Govender – Ygovender@sars.gov.za, 082 857 4287 or 032 436-9024; Richards Bay, Willy Roelofse – Wroelofse@sars.gov.za, 083 555-4598 or 035 780-7523; and Cape Town International Airport, Musa Nchukana – Mnchukana@sars.gov.za, 082 464-8969 or 021 413-6639.