Reporting of Conveyances and Goods

What’s new?

• 4 January 2022 – Letter to Trade on the extension of ePenalty: The ePenalty pilot focussed on the submission of advance loading and arrival cargo reports for imported goods in the sea and air modalities, as well as on
  export goods in the rail modality. The purpose was to provide cargo
  reporters with specific details of potential non-compliance on cargo
  reporting for them to take remedial action before monetary penalties are
  imposed. Following the conclusion of the pilot, engagements with affected stakeholders highlighted the need to receive additional ePenalty
  compliance letters to aid in further identifying potential shortcomings in the reporting of cargo by trade.
  
  SARS is committed to make it easy for traders to comply with their
  obligations and to work with them to improve their reporting compliance.
  As a result, it has been decided to extend the ePenalty pilot to 31 March 2022.
  
  
• 27 August 2021 – Pilot of ePenalty System: SARS has developed an ePenalty system under its Reporting of Conveyances and Goods (RCG) project to identify instances of noncompliance with prescribed reporting obligations and to penalise cargo reporters accordingly. For more information, see our letter to Trade.

Previous updates:

• • 12 May 2020 – Reporting of Conveyances and Goods – External Policy
    The Reporting of Conveyances and Goods policy has been updated to clarify that exemptions granted in respect of cargo reports apply to advance container loading notices, advance cargo arrival notices (imports), departure reports (exports) as well as acquitted manifests.
  • 12 May 2020 – The Reporting Requirements Look-up table was updated.
  • 20 March 2020 – Registration of Cargo reporter
    This week SARS announced that it is taking measures to ensure the safety of its staff and clients, including encouraging social distancing and limiting the number of people visiting SARS offices. As a result, if Customs clients wish to register as a cargo reporter, instead of couriering their registration documents or handing them in at SARS head office in Pretoria, they are asked to scan them and mail them to [email protected].
    For queries, you can call 012-422 8388.
  •  
  • 12 December 2019 – eCase and ePenalty Systems
  • 06 February 2019 – Frequently asked questions (FAQ’s): Part-shipment
  • 06 February 2019 – Udate on Automated Part-shipment Management at land border posts
  • 25 January 2019 – Reporting requirements
    • Reporting of Conveyances and Goods – External Policy
    • Removal of goods – External Policy.
  • 24 January 2019 – Update on Go-Live of Reporting of Conveyances and Goods (RCG): Phase 2A and Production release of Declaration Processing System (DPS)
  • 18 January 2019 – New date for introduction of automated Part-Shipment Management at land border posts
  • 06 December 2018 – Introduction of automated Part-Shipment Management at land border posts – postponed
    
  • 30 November 2018 – Update on the introduction of automated Part-Shipment Management at land border posts
  • 31 October 2018 – Reporting Requirements Lookup Table
  • 31 October 2018 – Updated list of RCG FAQs
  • 31 October 2018 – Reporting requirements
    • Registration, Licensing and Designation – External Policy
    • Application to Submit Cargo Reports – External Manual
    • Completion of Declarations – External Manual
    • Offences and Penalties – External Policy
  • 19 October 2018 – Mandatory submission of Electronic Cargo Reports: Reporting Penalties
  • 14 September 2018 – Reporting of Conveyances and Goods (RCG): Withdrawal of General Code
  • 12 September 2018 – Update on Go-Live of Reporting of Conveyances and Goods (RCG): Phase 2a
  • 18 July 2018 – Readiness Survey Feedback: Reporting of Conveyances and Goods (RCG)
  • 18 May 2018 – New RCG Application Forms
    • DA 8 – Application For Registration to Submit Report For Sea Cargo
    • DA 8A – Application For Registration to Submit Report For Air Cargo
    • DA 8B – Application For Registration to Submit Report For Rail Cargo
    • DA 8C – Application For Registration to Submit Report For Road Cargo
  • 18 May 2018 – Rules under section 8 – Reporting of Conveyances and Goods (Notice 429): 20 April 2018
  • 19 April 2018 – Update on Go-Live of RCG
  • 17 April 2018
    RCG User Implementation Guide
  • 17 April 2018 
    NCAP presentation
  • 16 April 2018
    Update on Go-Live of RCG and CSK
  • 26 February 2018 
    Mandatory submission of electronic cargo reports
  • 08 December 2017 – Draft Rule Amendments
    Draft rules under section 8 for the reporting of conveyances and goods (“RCG”) have been published for external comments until 19 January 2018.
  • 09 November 2017 – NCAP Roadshow Presentation for RCG
    
  • 09 November 2017 – Update on impending implementation of new Reporting Requirements under Customs and Excise ACT, 1964, for purposes of the New Customs Acts Programme (NCAP)
  • Click here for an RCG presentation delivered to stakeholders in September 2017.

What is it?

Building on the foundations laid by SARS’s Manifest Processing (MPR) system, RCG is the first component to be delivered under NCAP.  

MPR enabled shipping lines and airlines to report both pre-arrival and acquittal (post-arrival) manifest information to SARS electronically, thus reducing their reporting cost of compliance considerably. MPR was also able to match cargo reports to their corresponding customs clearances to identify instances of reporting non-compliance.   

The new Cargo Processing System (CPS) implemented under the RCG project reflects the new legislative framework in respect of cargo reporting, as set out in the Customs Control Act, 2014, and significantly improves cargo management and supply chain security. CPS, which includes both import and export reporting as well as transhipment reporting, introduces a number of new supply chain reports, including outturn reports, gate reports and pre-loading notices for containerised cargo.   

Top tip: To see the different Cargo reporting requirements, click here.

When is the implementation?

In order to facilitate the transition to the new dispensation of the Customs Control Act, 2014, the decision was taken to implement the first phase of RCG under the Customs and Excise Act, 1964. To achieve this, the rules under section 8 of the 1964 Act will be replaced by rules adapted for the 1964 Act, incorporating certain requirements of the reporting provisions contained in Chapter 3 of the Customs Control Act, 2014, and the rules to that Chapter.

This first phase of RCG under the 1964 Act was implemented on 20 April 2018.

Who is impacted and what steps must I take?

Under RCG, it is mandatory for all cargo reporters in the air, sea and road industries to submit reports to SARS electronically. Customs clients impacted by RCG include carriers, customs brokers, Port/Airport authorities, terminals, depots and registered agents.

Clients who have never submitted electronic reports must find out more about the legislative and system requirements relating to electronic reporting in order to become fully compliant before RCG is implemented. If you have any questions about RCG, feel free to mail them to [email protected].

Top tips:

• For the RCG Message Implementation Guidelines (MIGs), click here.
• See a list of RCG FAQs which has been published.