📄 Sources and Citation Policy

Sources and Citation Policy


Overview

Sterdts uses visible sources where a Knowledge Base topic requires verification, especially for customs, duties, taxes, permits, restricted goods, and other regulatory-sensitive topics.

Purpose of this policy

This policy explains how Sterdts chooses and uses sources in the Knowledge Base.

A sourced article is not copied from an authority or third-party website. It is a Sterdts plain-language explanation supported by official or authoritative references where the topic requires it.

service page: Compliance 

Source hierarchy

1. Official authority sources

Official authority sources are preferred for regulatory-sensitive topics.

For South African customs and import/export topics, this may include:

2. Carrier, port, terminal, and logistics sources

These may be used for operational matters such as:

  • booking requirements

  • cargo handling

  • transport documents

  • route conditions

  • carrier-specific procedures

  • terminal or port processes

These sources should not be used to override official authority guidance.

3. Industry sources

Industry bodies, documentation standards, and recognised logistics sources may be used to explain general shipping concepts.

4. Sterdts operational experience

Sterdts may explain how a process is generally coordinated in practice.

This should be labelled as Sterdts Operational Practice and must not be presented as law, regulation, customs advice, or tax advice.

When sources are required

Visible references should be included when an article discusses:

  • customs clearance

  • customs duties

  • import VAT

  • tariff classification concepts

  • permits

  • restricted or prohibited goods

  • import or export requirements

  • personal effects customs requirements

  • regulatory forms

  • authority-controlled processes

When sources may be lighter

Source blocks may be lighter for:

  • glossary definitions

  • basic freight concepts

  • editorial policy pages

  • article templates

  • stable process explanations that do not make regulatory claims

Even where sources are lighter, the article should still use cautious wording.

How references should appear

Where needed, each article should include a section called:

Official references used for regulatory context

The section should list the main sources used.

Example:

  • SARS — Customs and Excise

  • SARS — Imports

  • SARS — Goods Declaration

  • SARS — Tariff

  • SARS — Prohibited, restricted and counterfeit goods

  • ITAC — Import Control, where relevant

The page should also show a last updated date or version note.

What Sterdts avoids

Sterdts avoids using the following as primary sources for regulatory-sensitive topics:

  • unsourced forum posts

  • competitor marketing pages

  • AI-generated answers

  • outdated blogs

  • screenshots without a verifiable source

  • generic online duty calculators

  • informal social media claims

These may show what people are confused about, but they should not be used as final authority.

Sensitive topic disclaimer

For customs, duties, tax, permits, restricted goods, or other regulatory-sensitive topics, articles should include wording such as:

“This article is educational only. It is not legal, customs, tax, or compliance advice. Shipment-specific requirements should always be verified with the relevant authority or a qualified professional.”

Related pages

Last updated

June 2026

Version

v1.0 — Initial public Knowledge Base foundation.