Pickled levy should end

The Namibian Ministry of Finance has been requested to table an alteration to the wording of the export levy on hides and skins before the end of the year, which will specifically exclude pickled sheepskins from the levy. The tariff, which has been in place since August 2004, 'was intended to levy only hides and skins in wet or dry salted form', according to Willie Schutz, of the Namibian Meat Board, who is on the committee implementing and monitoring the export levy. 'The wording 'and not tanned' was included in the existing notice, with the result that hides and skins 'not tanned', including pickled skins, were levied.' The levies are 30% on hides and 15% on skins. Earlier this year, Namibian Customs ruled that pickled skins were not tanned and, therefore, attracted the levy. At a meeting on October 3, the monitoring committee proposed a change in the wording, allowing skins from the pickled stage upwards and hides from the wet-blue stage upwards, not to be levied. This must still be ratified and a new notice must be formed by the Ministry of Finance.