What SARS changed, and the relevant dates

On 15 October 2026, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) announced a revised Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Accreditation Policy. Revision 5 of policy SC-CF-07 states an effective date of 14 October 2026. It adds a transition route for accredited statuses granted before 8 December 2023: those status holders must transfer their accreditation details to the Registration, Licensing and Accreditation (RLA) system before 1 March 2027. SARS says successful transfer starts a new five-year status period from the transfer approval date; failure to meet the transition requirements may lead to suspension or cancellation.

A related notice, R.7992 in Government Gazette 55506, was published on 9 October 2026 and has retrospective effect from 1 September 2025. It changes Rule 64E.20’s stated period from six to eighteen calendar months. Keep that rule amendment’s retrospective date distinct from the revised policy’s 14 October 2026 effective date and its stated 1 March 2027 transfer deadline.

First check whether the transition applies to your business

The transition concerns a South African customs client that already holds accredited client status granted before 8 December 2023. The policy covers both Level 1 AEO Compliance (AEO-C) and Level 2 AEO Security (AEO-S). It is not a new product certificate for goods bought from China, and the notice does not say that every importer, Chinese supplier, or shipment must obtain AEO status. If your company does not hold this status, do not treat the legacy-transfer deadline as a reason by itself to stop an order; ask SARS or your South African customs adviser whether any separate registration or licence applies to the transaction.

If the importer relies on AEO-related facilitation, verify the actual status holder and level rather than relying on a logo, an old certificate, or a supplier’s statement. The policy says that particular benefits depend on the client category or case as determined by the Commissioner; do not promise fewer inspections or faster clearance for every shipment.

Keep the importer’s status separate from the agent’s licence

Ask the South African importer or customs client to check its own SARS/RLA profile, the original status-grant date and level, current validity details, and any transfer approval or outstanding request. Keep a dated copy of SARS notices and the final RLA status evidence with the importer’s customs records. The company whose status is being transferred is responsible for the RLA action; a Chinese factory cannot complete that step for the South African holder.

If a clearing agent lodges a Customs Clearance Declaration for reward on another client’s behalf, SARS says it must be licensed as a clearing agent. SARS states that this licence runs from 1 January to 31 December each year. Check the agent’s current-year licence separately from any AEO accreditation: they are different credentials, and one should not be used as evidence of the other.

Build a document hand-off before booking cargo

Before the next China shipment, confirm who is importer of record, who will lodge the declaration, and which party will verify the importer’s accreditation. Ask the Chinese supplier for accurate, dated product specifications, model or part numbers, invoice and packing-list data, and origin or manufacturing information requested by the importer’s customs adviser. These trade documents may support the import file, but they do not replace the importer’s RLA status record or determine whether an AEO benefit applies.

Use the 1 March 2027 date as a transition-planning checkpoint for affected legacy status holders, not as a universal cargo hold date. The South African importer remains responsible for its customs registration, declaration and decisions; the clearing agent handles only the work agreed and permitted under its licence; the supplier is responsible for accurate product and commercial information. Reconfirm the applicable rule and the client’s individual status with SARS before relying on a particular benefit.

Your next-order checklist

  • Confirm whether the South African importer already holds AEO-C or AEO-S status and when it was granted.
  • For status granted before 8 December 2023, verify RLA transfer completion before 1 March 2027 and retain SARS evidence.
  • Check a customs clearing agent’s current calendar-year licence separately from AEO accreditation.
  • Identify the importer of record and declaration filer before booking the China shipment.
  • Request dated product and commercial documents from the supplier; have the South African importer or adviser assess customs requirements.

Sources & reference dates

  1. Customs – Updated policy for Authorised Economic Operator (AEO)Source published: 2026-10-15
  2. SC-CF-07 – Accreditation – External Policy, Revision 5Effective: 2026-10-14
  3. Notice R.7992, Government Gazette No. 55506 – Amendment of rule 64E.20Source published: 2026-10-09Effective: 2025-09-01
  4. Clearing Agents – South African Revenue Service

Prepared by the Yifeng Sourcing editorial team with AI assistance from the primary sources listed below. Source dates are recorded; destination-specific requirements should be reconfirmed before acting. This is not legal or tax advice.