HS 2017

1 January 2017 marks the implementation of the 2017 version of the Harmonized System (HS) Nomenclature. The changes in HS 2017 reflect the amendments to the Nomenclature appended to the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS Convention), which were accepted as a result of the Customs Co-operation Council’s (now the World Customs Organisation) recommendations of 27 June 2014. These amendments will enter into force on 1 January 2017. Complementary amendments to the HS Nomenclature 2017 have been accepted as a result of the Council Recommendation of 11 June 2015.

As a signatory to the HS Convention, South Africa implements the amendments in terms of section 48(1)(c) of the Customs and Excise Act, 1964.

The main sources of these amendments, amongst others, are as follows:

Environmental and social issues of global concern, in particular the classification and coding of goods of specific importance to food security and the early warning data system of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
The amendments for fish and fishery products are to further enhance the coverage of species and product forms which need to be monitored for food security purposes and for better management of resource. This will assist in the collection of trade statistics
The HS 2017 amendment aims at detailed information for several categories of products that are used as antimalarial commodities
New subheadings have been created for the monitoring and control of certain products of bamboo and rattan, requested by the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR)
New subheadings have been created for specific chemicals controlled under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)
Amendments that resulted from changes in international trade patterns, such as –
- separate identification of certain commodities in either existing or new headings;
- some advancements in technology; and
- amendments aimed at the clarification of text to ensure uniform application of the HS Nomenclature.

The HS 2017 amendments and correlation table (Schedule No. 1) up to a 6-digit level can be viewed on the WCO website at http://www.wcoomd.org

Date	HS 2017 documents	Explanation
2 December 2016	Explanatory Memorandum	The Explanatory Memorandum elaborates on specific changes included in the amendments of the Schedules to the Customs and Excise Act, 1964, such as the implementation of HS2017, the phase-down of duties in terms of agreements, technical amendments, amongst others. Explanatory Memorandum
2 December 2016	Amendment of the General Notes to Schedule No. 1	Amendment of the General Notes to Schedule No.1 to implement various technical amendments: Notice R.1470 with effect from 1 January 2017
2 December 2016	Amendment of Part 1 of Schedule No. 1 GG.40460	These documents contain, amongst others, the recommendations made by the WCO on a 6-digit level, as well as the consequential amendments on a national (8-digit) level. Part 1 of Schedule No. 1 also contains the following: The phase-down of duty for 2017 in terms of the EPA between the European Union (EU) and the South African Development Community (SADC) EPA States: Notice R.1467 with effect from 1 January 2017 Notice R.1471 with effect from 1 January 2017 Notice R.1469 with retrospective effect from 1 January 2012
2 December 2016	Amendment of Schedule No. 1 Part 2A GG.40460	Consequential amendments as a result of the HS 2017 amendment implemented in Part 1 of Schedule No. 1: Notice R.1468 with effect from 1 January 2017
2 December 2016	Amendment of Schedule No. 1 Part 2B GG.40460	Consequential amendments as a result of the HS 2017 amendment implemented in Part 1 of Schedule No. 1: Notice R.1464 with effect from 1 January 2017
2 December 2016	Amendment of Schedule No. 2 GG.40460	Consequential amendments as a result of the HS 2017 amendment implemented in Part 1 of Schedule No. 1: Notice R.1472 with effect from 1 January 2017
2 December 2016	Amendment of Schedule No. 3 GG.40460	Consequential amendment as a result of the HS 2017 amendment implemented in Part 1 of Schedule No. 1: Notice R.1474 with effect from 1 January 2017
2 December 2016	Amendment of Schedule No. 4 GG.40460	Technical amendment in terms of APDP as specified in the explanatory memorandum: Notice R.1473 with retrospective effect from 1 January 2013
2 December 2016	Amendment of Schedule No. 5 Part 3 GG.40460	Technical amendments as specified in the explanatory memorandum: Notice R.1465 with effect from 1 January 2017
2 December 2016	Amendment of Schedule No. 5 Part 5 GG.40460	Technical amendments as specified in the explanatory memorandum: Notice R.1475 with effect from 1 January 2017
2 December 2016	Amendment of Schedule No. 6 Part 1C GG.40460	Consequential amendments as a result of the HS 2017 amendment implemented in Part 1 of Schedule No. 1 as well as technical amendments as specified in the explanatory memorandum: Notice R.1479 with effect from 1 January 2017
2 December 2016	Amendment of Schedule No. 6 Part 1C GG.40460	Consequential amendments as a result of the HS 2017 amendment implemented in Part 1 of Schedule No. 1 as well as technical amendments as specified in the explanatory memorandum: Notice R.1477 with retrospective effect from 23 September 2016
2 December 2016	Amendment of Schedule No. 6 Part 2 GG.40460	Consequential amendments as a result of the HS 2017 amendment implemented in Part 1 of Schedule No. 1 as well as technical amendments as specified in the explanatory memorandum: Notice R.1476 with effect from 1 January 2017
2 December 2016	Correlation Table Schedule No. 1 Part 1	The correlation table serve as a guide to assist with the transposition of goods on a national level but has no legal status: Correlation table for Schedule No. 1 Part 1
2 December 2016	Correlation Table other Schedules	The correlation table serve as a guide to assist with the transposition of goods on a national level but has no legal status: Correlation table for other Schedules
2 December 2016	FAQs	FAQs for HS 2017

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