A Government Gazette notice dated 12 June 2026 amends Schedule No. 1 of the Customs and Excise Act, 1964, revising the tariff rate quota (TRQ) arrangement for selected cheese products with retrospective effect from 1 September 2025 to 31 December 2025. The TRQ system forms part of SACU’s preferential trade framework and regulates the volume of specified agricultural products that may enter member states at reduced or zero “in-quota” tariff rates, with imports exceeding the quota subject to higher “out-of-quota” duties. The amendment reflects adjustments to the annual quota allocation mechanism to ensure balanced distribution of preferential access among SACU member states and orderly market management.
The revised TRQ applies to various cheese products classified under HS codes 04061000, 04062000, 04063000, 04064000, 04069012, 04069022, 04069099, and 19019040, covering fresh, grated, processed, blue-veined, and other cheese categories, including products in immediate packaging of 5 kg or more.
The updated quota allocations are as follows:
- Total quota volumes: 1 499.62 tons and 796 tons
- Botswana: 74.981 tons and 39.8 tons
- Eswatini: 74.981 tons and 39.8 tons
- Lesotho: 74.981 tons and 39.8 tons
- Namibia: 74.981 tons and 39.8 tons
- South Africa: 1 199.70 tons and 636.80 tons
These allocations set the maximum quantities eligible for preferential tariff treatment within the specified period and determine the distribution of import access across SACU member states.
Overall, the amendment reinforces the administration of SACU’s tariff quota system by updating product coverage and redistributing import volumes to maintain compliance with agreed preferential trade arrangements.