Customs clearance

Automotive

Making provision for minimally manufactured semi-knocked down kits

On 5 February 2021 Note 5 in South African Tariff was substituted. The effect is to implement a minimum manufacturing requirement to regulate the export of semi-knocked down motor vehicle kits in terms of the Automotive Product development program.

"Original equipment components for specified motor vehicles as defined in rebate item 317.03, destined for assembly outside the borders of the Republic, must be in the form of kits that have untrimmed painted bodies with no parts assembled to the body".

Minimally manufactured semi-knocked down kits specified in Note 5 must be produced to qualify for customs clearance of original equipment components for subsequent export and assembly outside the Republic.

Consumables

Increase in taxes on Liquor and Tobacco products

This year is no exception. The taxation proposals increasing the rate of specific customs duties and specific excise duties (set out in Schedule 1 Part 2A of the South African Customs and Excise Act), in this instance by 8 percent, were tabled in Parliament as part of the Minister's budget speech.

Inflation-related increases of the rate of fuel levy (increase by 15c/Li) and road accident fund levy (increase by 11c/Li) will be with effect from 7 April 2021.

Consumables

Frozen bon-in chicken cuts: Initiation of anti-dumping investigation

The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) is a schedule 3A Public entity established in terms of the International Trade Administration Act, No 71 of 2002, and came into force on 1 June 2003. ITAC replaced its predecessor, the Board of Tariffs and Trade (BTT) that was established in 1986. The predecessor of the BTT is the Board on Trade and Industries (BTI) that dated back to 1924.

Anti-dumping duty is a protectionist tariff, intended to protect producers in the country of importation, that the government in the country of import imposes on foreign imports that it believes are priced below fair market value. Dumping is a process wherein a company exports a product at a price that is significantly lower than the price it normally charges in its home (or its domestic) market.

Healthcare

COVID-19 Vaccines & Customs VAT Rebate

On 12 February 2021 SARS amended the SACU customs tariff by inserting tariff subheadings 3002.1 covering Coronavirus vaccines and 3002.20.90 covering other vaccines.

The new subheading came into being to allow monitoring for statistics and health purposes, of the status, spread and measures taken vis-a-vis the COVID-19 virus in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).

SARS Customs further inserted tariff subheading 3002.20.19 covering coronavirus vaccines other than COVID-19. The import rate of duty remains free, in respect of all vaccines.