The acting senior manager for trade administration at the South African Revenue Service (Sars) has issued a letter titled ‘Revised Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) Offered to South Africa by the European Commission (EC)’, dated January 30.

The letter reads: “The multinational scheme of generalised tariff preferences applied by the [EC] in terms of the council regulation of June 27, 2005, expired on December 31, 2010. The council regulation of November 18, 2010, covers the revised version of the scheme of generalised tariff preferences which have been applied from January 1, 2011.

“Changes provided for in the revised scheme relate to: (1) the determination of the origin criteria, which are now more clearly defined on a sector-by-sector basis rather than a product-by-product basis; (2) the replacement of the direct transport rule with a more flexible nonmanipulation principle; (3) the amendment of the definition ‘its vessels’ for fishery products captured outside territorial waters to be considered as wholly obtained; and (4) the relaxation [of] and adaptation to sectoral specificities of the general tolerance rule from 10% to 15% for agricultural products.

“The changes do not affect the rules for compliance with origin requirements and the administrative arrangements pertaining to certification and the claiming of preferences.

“The amended customs rules governing the revised [GSP] - (EU) were published in the Government Gazette of December 21, 2012, and have been placed on the Sars website.”

Photographic Plates Application
On January 25, the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) informed of the review of the customs duty on photographic plates and film in the flat, sensitised, unexposed, of any material (excluding paper, paperboard or textiles); instant print film in the flat, sensitised, unexposed, whether or not in packs for X-ray, classifiable under tariff subheading 3701.10.90 with a rate of customs duty of 15% ad valorem.

The application was lodged by Itac, which arged that, in its Report No 383, it recommended the review of the tariff structure after a period of 12 months in light of the demand and supply conditions in the X-ray film industry and the activity of the local slitting industry.
Comment is due by February 22.

Rebate Applications
Itac published three ‘rebate of customs duty’ applications on January 25. The applications were initiated by 3M South Africa, which cited the necessity to reintroduce local manufacturing, increase the workforce from 130 to 145, to reduce the cost of production to the market and allow it to be competitive as the costs will have decreased, and to advance investment and promote employment by 2015.

The first rebate item relates to polyurethane flat shapes with dimensions not exceeding 50 mm × 2 mm × 10 mm, self-adhesive on one side only rolls of a width not exceeding 20 cm, classifiable under tariff subheading 3919.10.07.

The second relates to silicon elastomeric straps with a length not exceeding 315 mm and with a width not exceeding 7 mm, classifiable under tariff subheading 3926.90.90.

The third relates to natural rubber straps with a length not exceeding 315 mm, with a width not exceeding 7 mm, classifiable under tariff subheading 6307.90.10 for the manufacture of dust masks.

Comment is due by February 22.

Coated Paper Dumping Application
Itac has published a notice pertaining to the initiation of an investigation into the alleged dumping of coated paper originating in or imported from the People’s Republic of China and South Korea.

The application was lodged by Sappi Southern Africa, which submitted sufficient evidence and established a prima facie case to enable Itac to arrive at the conclusion that an investigation should be initiated on the basis of dumping, material injury and causality.

Comment is due by March 4.

IDZ External Guide
Sars has published it external guide for industrial development zones (IDZ), dated January 31. The guide covers the legislation governing the IDZs and customs control areas, as well as the administrative processes and requirements applicable to them.

Waste and Scrap Metal
On January 25, two Government Gazette notices were published in respect of the export of ferrous and nonferrous metal waste and scrap. The first was titled ‘Draft export control guidelines on the exportation of ferrous and nonferrous metal waste and scrap’ and the second ‘Draft policy directive on the exportation of ferrous and nonferrous waste and scrap metal’.

The products in question are, among others, copper, nickel, aluminium, lead zinc, tin, manganese, vanadium. Comment on both notices is due by February 22.

Proposed Alcohol Tariff Amendments
Sars has extended an invitation to comment on proposed amendments relating to Additional Note 4 to Chapter 22, titled ‘Beverages, spirits and vinegar’, to clarify the scope of certain products classifiable in tariff heading 22.08.

Comment is due by February 22.