Global Trade Alert

On 19 June 2009, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) published a tariff reduction on canned pineapple:

• Tariff exemption on canned pineapple for further processing, cassified under 460.04/2008.20/01.06
• Tariff reduction (minus 20%) on imported canned pineapple for direct retail distribution, cassified under 460.04/2008.20/02.06.

 
The previous tax schedule was 55% ad valorem for all countries in general, 0% for EU member states, 55% for EFTA member states, and 0% for the Southern African Development Community.
 
The tariff reduction was requested by the South African Fruit and Vegetable Canners Association (SAFVCA) to the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC). The ITAC in turn granted a tariff change, on the grounds that domestic producers were unable to supply the SACU market with pineapples due to cadmium contamination. The rebates are provided by specific permit.
 
Affected trading partners
The GTA retrieves its data on affected trading partners from UN Comtrade. However, for the year 2008, the database was not available to provide the affected trading partners for Swaziland.
 
Update
On 5 August 2011, the rebate provision on canned pineapple for direct distribution (see second bullet point) was suspended by SARS Notice 625.