Industry has been given a two-week extension for final commentary on the draft rules and regulations guiding the new customs legislation.
All comments on the amended rules and regulations now have to be completed and submitted to the South African Revenue Service (Sars) by April 15.
According to an industry source it is understood that this is industry’s last opportunity to give input into the rules and regulations.
“We have been giving input and making comments for some time on the rules guiding the three new pieces of customs legislation. In November last year the last commentary was done and Sars said they would publish the amended rules in their entirety for industry to read and comment on. The commentary that is now being made is on the amended rules,” he said. “Of course there is still the chance that they will publish a final set of drafts but it is unlikely that any further commentary will be allowed from this point forward.”
He said industry had been struggling to meet the April 1 deadline that had been set but the extension would allow for all comments made by various organisations participating in the process by the new deadline.
“This process and our input into it is just about over. It is therefore very important that anyone who still has any outstanding issues or concerns engages in this process now.”
Sars is set to implement the first phase of the new legislation before the end of the 2016/17 financial year when the registration and licensing process will begin. All customs clients will have to re-register with Sars under the new legislation.
Asked when the new legislation was expected to come into full effect the source said that all indications pointed towards late 2017.
