International Trade and Customs Specialists SACU

05/06/2021

The HS 2022 version (which will enter into force on 1 January 2022 and will be valid until 31 December 2026) of the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (Harmonized System) will be amended to provide separately for non-living edible insects for food and feed security. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations requested the World Customs Organization (WCO) to make specific provision for four groups of products in the HS 2022 version: Non-living edible insects, some species of mushrooms, pine nuts and the bark of African cherry. These products play and important role in generating income for the poor, food and nutritional security, basic human needs and improving quality of life. (It relates to at least five of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals: (Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere; Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture; Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages; Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all; Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns).

The FAO has been working on topics pertaining to edible insects since 2003.

Specific HS codes have been created in the 2022 version of the HS to facilitating the collection of reliable trade statistics. All transportable products are classifiable in the HS, but many products fall under "basket provisions" or "residual subheadings" together with many similar items which makes it impossible or difficult to monitor trade in such goods. The FAO approached the the WCO to specifically provide for codes for non-living edible insects to facilitate the collection of trade statistics and to determine whether their harvesting is sustainable.

Read more about opportunities and challenges and the Mopane worm inhttp://www.fao.org/3/i3253e/i3253e.pdf

While you wouldn't find too many of them on menus in Europe or the US, it's estimated that 2 billion people -- a third of the planet -- consume insects. Whic...

27/04/2020

This is not 100% the case but is from an United States perspective. The approach between US traders is intersting and has been noted by me too. I normally start representing clients after their goods have been audited by SARS. These guys suggest the approach the way it should be - before you do anything.

Tariff Classification broken down into simple terms. 🌎Cole International 🌍 Website: https://www.coleintl.com/ Blog: https://www.blog.coleintl.com/ Facebook: ...

18/07/2017

UPDATE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN CUSTOMS ACTS 2014
According to a press release issued by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) on 5 July 2017, there are still many issues that need to be resolved before the Customs Control Act No. 31 of 2014 and the Customs Duty Act No. 30 of 2014 can be implemented.

The drafting of the Rules under the Customs Control Act and the Customs Duty Act still needs to be finalized.
The draft Rules have been published in installments, some for sight only, while others have been published for comments. The “frozen drafts” published for sight only has been published as such for the purposes of SARS systems development.
In the meantime the draft Deferment Rules have been published for public comment.

The closing date for comments is 31 July 2017. See http://www.sars.gov.za/Legal/Preparation-of-Legislation/Pages/Draft-Documents-for-Public-Comment.aspx.

In addition to the drafting of the Rules, a lot needs to be done before the new Acts can finally be implemented. It includes:
Drafting of outstanding rules (Chapter 2 of the Customs Control Act in relation to Customs control, places of entry and exit and Customs controlled areas and Chapter 37 of the Customs Control Act in relation to reconsideration of decisions and dispute resolution) and publication thereof for public comments following internal discussions.

Drafting of the penalty lists in respect of both the Customs Control Act and the Customs Duty Act to be published for public comment following internal discussions.

Aligning the Customs Tariff to the new Customs legislation (the new Customs Tariff will be published as schedules to the Customs Duty Act).

SARS are now in the process of embarking on roadshows to “give a high-level overview” of the impact of the Customs Control Act and the Customs Duty Act on stakeholders.
During these roadshows there will also be a progress report on the implementation of the new Customs Acts.

The roadshows will begin in July 2017 and will be completed by August 2017. All major centres in each region will be covered by the roadshows.

Bookings can be made via the SARS website and will be on a first come, first served basis, limited to a maximum of one person per organisation.

Once the roadshows have been completed, the dedicated page on the SARS website will be updated with presentations and new “Frequently Asked Questions”. The page can be accessed by clicking at http://www.sars.gov.za/ClientSegments/Customs-Excise/AboutCustoms/Pages/New-Customs-Legislation-update.aspx).

Explanatory Note:Part 2 of Chapter 3 of the Customs Duty Rules, dealing with Deferment is hereby published for public comment. Note that the draft Part has not been renumbered as renumbering will be done once the Part is inserted into the text of Chapter 3 of the Customs Duty Rules.

12/07/2017

The South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) is about to embark on a national roadshow for wood packaging material (ISPM 15) and discontinuation of methyl bromide.

An invitation has been sent to all role players in manufacturing, treating, exporting of wood packing material (WPM) using Methyl bromide and Heat Treatment, as well as importers of Methyl Bromide fumigant including Freight Forwarders and Agents of principals representing manufacturers, exporters and importers of these commodities.

The purpose of the roadshow is to appraise role players on the following:
• ISPM 15 regulation
• Registration;
• Auditing procedure and requirements;
• Compliance for Pest Controllers in terms of the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No. 36 of 1947); and
• Discontinuation of Methyl Bromide and exempted MB uses (QPS & ISPM 15).

All attendees will be presented with certificates of attendance.

Registrants on the DAFF database who do not attend a roadshow will be suspended from the DAFF database.

The roadshows will take place between 09h00 and 13h00 on 11 August 2017 in Gauteng, 14 August 2017 in Durban, 16 August 2017 in Port Elizabeth and 18 August 2017 in Stellenbosch.

Contact Petunia Salmo at [email protected] for more information about the roadshows.

ISPM 15 is an international measure regulating the treatment of wood packaging materials of a thickness greater than 6mm.

Phytosanitary measures relate to the regulation of plants (againsts pests/diseases) in international trade, and the purposes of international standards for phytosanitary measures are to:
• harmonize phytosanitary measures;
• facilitate trade; and
• prevent the use of technically unjustified phytosanitary measures.

The purpose of the ISPM 15 regulation is to reduce the risk of introduction or spread of quarantine pests associated with wood packaging materials used in international trade.

Methyl bromide (MB) is the synonym for bromomethane. Another synonym is Halon-1001.

Methyl bromide (MB) has been banned from most uses.

Bromomethane (methyl bromide) is a highly toxic pesticide. It is thus controlled by the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade), a multilateral environmental agreement (MEA) in relation to the international trade in hazardous chemical substances. The Rotterdam Convention covers pesticides and industrial chemicals that have been banned or severely restricted for health or environmental reasons.

Bromomethane (methyl bromide) is also subject to import and export permits (licenses) under Schedule 2 to the Import and Export Control Regulations of the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC). Schedule 2 to the ITAC Import and Export Control Regulations regulate the importation and exportation of ozone depleting substances (ODS) under the Montreal Protocol.

Methyl bromide is regulated by the Montreal Protocol because it is highly destructive to the stratospheric ozone layer in the upper atmosphere. Destruction of this protective ozone layer results in more damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation getting to the earth's surface, which increases our risk of skin cancer, cataracts, immune disorders, and other diseases.

Other risks associated with bromomethane (methyl bromide) include:
• Lung inflammation and impaired breathing; and
• neurological effects including headaches, dizziness, fainting, weakness, speech impairment, numbness, twitching and tremors; in severe cases paralysis and convulsions.

11/07/2017

09/07/2017

Lourens Botes congratulations on starting TRACSA (The Registered Agent Customs South-Africa).

12/06/2017

New SAQA-aligned training material developed for Sufficient Customs Knowledge for South African importers and exporters.