Client Question: The buyer’s vessel is delayed and our cargo has incurred storage in the port. As a FOB seller, can we avoid these charges? Answer: All other conditions having been met, in either a CPT or a CIP contract, delivery takes place when the seller hands over the goods to the ‘first’ carrier. The ‘main’ carrier in these Rules is the party offering the contract of carriage, from handover through to the named place; the ‘first’ carrier could be this party, or it could be another party that the main carrier appoints to collect or receive from the seller on their behalf. Importantly, t ..read more

OGA: DALRRD: General Notice 1846 of 2023 OGA: DALRRD: Export Control Regulations: Processed Foods OGA: DALRRD: Export Control Regulations: Fresh fruit  OGA: DALRRD: Export Control Regulations: Animal Products  OGA: DALRRD: Export Control Regulations: Grains OGA: DALRRD: Export Control Regulations: Vegetables OGA: DALRRD: Export Control Regulations: Tree Nuts OGA: DALRRD: Export Control Regulations: Feed Products The post DALRRD Export Control Regulations appeared first on Import Export License ..read more

As an importer or exporter based in South Africa, you are aware that a vast amount of paperwork is required by Customs to keep track of shipments entering and exiting the country. There are also numerous recordkeeping requirements to keep up to date with. Accurate recordkeeping is essential both legally and for the smooth running of your business operations. This blog serves as a reminder about the importance of meticulous recordkeeping and provides information about South African recordkeeping requirements, as well as the legal implications thereof.   Why must I keep records? The info ..read more

Client Question: Which Incoterms Rules work best with a letter of credit (L/C)? Answer: There is no connection between any form of commercial term and the letter of credit, but you might need to find one. The Incoterms Rules may be used by sellers and buyers in an endeavour to privately regulate certain aspects of their international sales contract. Documentary Credits (L/Cs in this example) are used by issuing banks and beneficiaries to do the same to their separate and unconnected international sales contract. The seller and buyer are generally transacting with physical goods, w ..read more

Client Question: Why do my suppliers insist on quoting Incoterms FOB and not FCA, even though my orders are in full containers? Answer: I assume this question has come about because your seafreight orders are containerised, and the Incoterms Rules state that using the (limited and limiting) Incoterms definition of FOB for containerised traffic might not be appropriate. But this alone does not prohibit its use. Stating that the term is not necessarily ‘appropriate’ is a caution, not a prohibition. And, of course, Incoterms has no authority over the meaning of the many other versions of the te ..read more

Client Question: Why do my suppliers insist on quoting Incoterms FOB and not FCA, even though my orders are in full containers? Answer: I assume this question has come about because your seafreight orders are containerised, and the Incoterms Rules state that using the (limited and limiting) Incoterms definition of FOB for containerised traffic might not be appropriate. But this alone does not prohibit its use. Stating that the term is not necessarily ‘appropriate’ is a caution, not a prohibition. And, of course, Incoterms has no authority over the meaning of the many other versions of the te ..read more

Are you a foreign entity exporting goods from South Africa? Or are you a tourist on holiday in South Africa? Did you buy gifts for those back home or mementos of the trip for yourself? You might be a non-resident of South Africa but have ordered products from the country to be delivered to you by courier or freight forwarder. Possibly you are a foreign diplomat in South Africa, now coming to the end of your term and preparing to move back home. Whichever scenario fits, we have good news that you might have missed: you can claim back the Value Added Tax (VAT) that was levied on the products ..read more

How to Manage a Customs and Excise Bond Store, a Rebate Store, and a Special Manufacturing Warehouse In a previous article, we discussed Customs and Excise Storage Warehouses, Rebate Stores and Manufacturing Warehouses. We discussed what a State Warehouse is, what a Storage Warehouse is, and the different types of Storage Warehouses. First, let us understand some terminology:       A Bond Store or a Storage Warehouse – this is where you may store imported goods to defer the payment of Customs duties and taxes for up to two years.       A Rebate Store or Rebat ..read more

Your questions answered Client Question: In CPT/CIP, what does ‘delivery to the first carrier’ entail? Answer: All other conditions having been met, in either a CPT or a CIP contract, delivery takes place when the seller hands over the goods to the ‘first’ carrier. The ‘main’ carrier in these Rules is the party offering the contract of carriage, from handover through to the named place; the ‘first’ carrier could be this party, or it could be another party that the main carrier appoints to collect or receive from the seller on their behalf. Importantly, the carrier cannot be the seller. For exa ..read more

Your guide to AfCFTA The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) was enforced by the African Union (AU) in May 2019. However, the implementation of its trade benefit was only initiated by South Africa on the 31st of January 2024. Let’s look at what this trade agreement entails, and how it affects South African businesses who import and export. What is the AfCFTA? It is the largest trade agreement in the world in terms of the number of participating countries and through its promotion of intra-African trade, it holds the promise of boosting Africa’s income. As a flagship project of t ..read more