PG Bison Empowers SARS Teams with Industry Knowledge to Help Identify Illicit Imports

PG Bison hosted officials from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) at its Boksburg manufacturing facility on 14 September 2026 for practical product training and a factory tour focused on wood-based panel products.

The visit provided SARS officials with direct exposure to how locally manufactured panel products are produced, specified, priced and classified, helping to strengthen their understanding of products entering the South African market.

The training forms part of broader industry engagement involving PG Bison, the South African Furniture Initiative (SAFI), Furntech and SARS. The objective is to improve product knowledge and support the identification of potentially misclassified, under-declared or non-compliant imports.

These practices undermine fair competition and place pressure on South African manufacturers, jobs and investment across the furniture and forestry value chain.

During the visit, SARS officials were taken through manufacturing processes, product specifications, pricing structures and tariff classifications. This practical exposure helps customs teams identify products more accurately, understand their value and recognise areas where potential non-compliance may occur.

Greg Boulle, Chief Executive Officer of SAFI, said:

“SAFI has been working closely with SARS to improve understanding of furniture and board products, tariff classification and the challenges associated with under-declared and misclassified imports.

Factory visits such as this provide customs officials with valuable practical insight into how products are manufactured, identified and traded. We value PG Bison’s support in helping to build a more accurate, transparent and compliant import environment.”

Talifhani Tshinavha, Manager: Key Industry Management at SARS, added:

“Collaboration between SARS and the furniture industry is essential to improving customs compliance. The exposure provided by PG Bison gives officials a better understanding of manufacturing processes and the broader furniture value chain, enabling them to process transactions with greater product knowledge.”

PG Bison believes that practical industry knowledge is an important part of strengthening customs capability and supporting a fair and competitive trading environment.

Effective enforcement depends not only on having the correct regulations in place, but also on equipping customs teams with the knowledge to correctly identify products, understand their value and apply the appropriate tariff classifications.

By sharing its manufacturing and product expertise, PG Bison aims to support SARS in strengthening customs compliance and creating a fairer trading environment for compliant businesses.

Protecting South Africa’s manufacturing base means protecting jobs, encouraging continued investment and preserving the industrial capability required for long-term economic growth and job creation.