Import duties on frozen vegetable to remain at 10%
The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) has concluded its tariff review of the customs duty applicable to frozen mixed vegetables. The decision was published as Notice 4014 of 2026 in Government Gazette No. 54970 on 10 July 2026.
The review covered frozen mixed vegetables, classifiable under tariff subheading 0710.90. The current customs duty has been maintained at 10% ad valorem.
Background to the review and the final determination
The tariff review was initiated by the former Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition on 21 July 2023. The review followed Itac’s earlier consideration of an application by Nature’s Garden (Pty) Ltd, which requested an increase in the customs duty from 10% to 37% ad valorem.
In Report No. 733, Itac concluded that the existing tariff of 10% ad valorem should be maintained. The Commission noted that, although global food prices have moderated since the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, price volatility remains a concern. Increasing the duty could place additional pressure on consumers while providing limited additional benefit to the domestic industry.
Itac also indicated that it will continue monitoring import trends, domestic production and developments in the sector to assess whether any future tariff intervention may be warranted.
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New rebate requested for aluminium containers
Itac has also published an application for the creation of a temporary rebate provision covering certain aluminium containers used in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The application, submitted by Pharmachem Laboratories (Pty) Ltd, seeks the creation of a temporary rebate provision for collapsible tubular containers with a capacity not exceeding 300 ml (whether or not lined or heat-insulated, but excluding those fitted with mechanical or thermal equipment), classifiable under tariff subheading 7612.10.
The applicant submits that the imported containers are currently subject to a 10% ad valorem customs duty despite there being no known domestic manufacturer of the product. As a result, the duty increases production costs for local pharmaceutical manufacturers without protecting local producers.
The application further notes that finished pharmaceutical products classified under tariff subheading 3004.90.99 may be imported into Sacu free of customs duty, creating a tariff structure that places domestic manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage.