Primary briefing · Gazette
high impact 55427 · 4158 · 2026-09-21
ITAC Draft Administrative Fees Guidelines — New Cost Regime for All Permit and Certificate Applications
Comment closes
05 Oct 2026
Notice 4158 of 2026 publishes ITAC's draft Administrative Fees Guidelines under section 60 of the International Trade Administration Act 71 of 2002. For the first time, ITAC will levy administrative fees to recover processing costs on applications for import/export permits, rebate and drawback permits, and APDP certificates (EPC, PRC, CSP). Fees range from R339 per tariff subheading for standard import/export permits to R3,797 for waste and scrap metal permits and R5,608 for PRC applications, all VAT-exempt. Import/export permit fees multiply with each tariff subheading on an application, meaning multi-line applications could face substantial cumulative costs. Fees are non-refundable after payment. ITAC may exempt applicants for good cause or in the public interest, a provision likely relevant to NPOs, SMMEs, and humanitarian importers. The fee regime commences on 1 April 2027 for APDP certificates, with extension to other authorisations to follow with due notice. Citing fiscal constraints limiting parliamentary appropriations, ITAC frames the fees as a cost-recovery measure.
Who is affected
Importers and exporters (especially multi-line permit holders)Automotive OEMs and component manufacturers participating in APDPWaste and scrap metal dealers and exportersCustoms and trade compliance advisersIn-house counsel at companies holding ITAC permits or certificatesNon-profit and humanitarian organisations importing controlled goodsSMMEs engaged in cross-border trade What this means for practitioners
Submit public comments to Mrs Amina Varachia at avarachia@itac.org.za within 14 days of publication (deadline approximately 5 October 2026)
APDP participants must budget for new administrative fees on EPC, PRC, and CSP certificate applications from 1 April 2027
Importers and exporters with multi-line applications should assess cumulative fee exposure under the per-tariff-subheading charging model
Eligible NPOs, SMMEs, and humanitarian organisations should evaluate whether to seek fee exemptions under the good-cause or public-interest provisions
Monitor ITAC announcements for the later extension of fees to import/export control permits and rebate/drawback permits