Pretoria - The Department of Trade and Industry has announced that it has transferred the task of authorising Certificates of Origin of the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) to the South African Revenue Services (SARS).
The change will affect all South African exporters to Russia and their agents, according to a statement issued by the department on Wednesday.
The GSP certificate of origin allows South African exporters to penetrate the Russian market for certain products at preferential rates of customs duties.
The department has been responsible for the certification of South African exports to Russia since the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation to include South Africa into its list of countries enjoying preferential duties in April 2003.
Russian exporters and their agents are advised to visit SARS offices for assistance on the administration of the GSP for that country.
The ministry said the change would be effective from 1 December 2009
