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:

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].

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