The SA Poultry Association (SAPA) helped to train some 120 SARS inspectors last month, showing them how to identify chicken consignments where import tariffs may be evaded by misdeclaration or under-declaration.
Izaak Breitenbach, head of SAPA’s broiler division, undertook this personally. In four online sessions, he showed the inspectors what the different chicken portions look like, and the varying tariff codes under which they should be imported.
He also showed them how tariffs can be evaded or reduced. For example, a frozen whole bird from Brazil attracts a tariff of 82%, but cut into two these become portions with a lower tariff of 62%. Or if high-tariff chicken portions were declared as zero-tariff mechanically deboned meat (MDM), then no tariff would be paid.
More such training sessions are planned.
