Sars hosts BRICS Customs heads
South African Revenue Service (Sars) hosted the heads of customs administrations from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) in Durban from 18 -19 April. The objective of the Customs Cooperation Meeting was to enhance relations, further improve co-operation, and promote development among BRICS member countries. The meeting was preceded by a customs expert meeting. Sars will also host the tax experts and the heads of tax administrations in June 2018. These meetings are part of government-wide departmental meetings that form part of the build-up to the 10th BRICS Summit, which South Africa will host as chair of BRICS in August.
Perishable products export levies
The Perishable Products Export Control Board on 13 April announced in the Government Gazette the imposition of levies on perishable products in terms of the Perishable Products Export Control from 1 April. The notice is divided into seven categories, namely sea levies, container inspection levies, other levies, inspection levies (agricultural product standards), hour and kilometre rates, laboratory fees, and non-accredited methods. In the instance of sea levies, it pertains to conventional (break-bulk) R17.00 per pallet; conventional – under cold treatment protocols R32.10 per pallet; RMT loading/off-loading R15.30 per pallet; containerised harbour; R476.00 per container; containerised inland R615.00 per container; containerised – under cold treatment protocols R914.00 per container; containerised at two loading points R1 220.00 per container; products exported by air R0.03 per kilogram; and after-hour callouts. The callout rates are normal time (8 am to 5 pm weekdays) R657 per hour; normal overtime R721 per hour; Sundays and public holidays R806 per hour; and the kilometre rate R5.60 per kilometre.
WCO Digital and E-Commerce Workshop
The World Customs Organisation (WCO) hosted a regional workshop on Digital Customs and E-Commerce for East and Southern Africa (ESA) from 26-29 March in Harare, Zimbabwe. The nub of the discussions was that Customs administrations needed to adopt and complement economic partners through a greater uptake of information and communication technologies (ICT) and e-Commerce solutions in the receiving, processing, and transmission of information and documents.
Transparency of Regional Trade Agreements
On 9-10 April, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) met to discuss the enhancement of the transparency of RTAs. The committee reviewed five RTAs covering countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. At the meeting WTO members reiterated the importance of the effective implementation of the RTA transparency mechanism. The mechanism is designed to enhance the transparency of RTAs and improve understanding of their effects on the multilateral system. Under this mechanism WTO members notify the WTO about their RTAs and these are discussed by the wider WTO membership. The WTO secretariat alerted WTO members to the new RTA database, which includes the most up-to-date information on RTAs sent to the WTO. They have been added to the RTA webpages on the WTO website.
