Erich Kieck is the Head of Customs Strategic Policy at the South African Revenue Service. In this position he is responsible for advising the Commissioner on International Trade and Customs policy and legal issues.  He was responsible for developing the new Customs strategic policy paper and new operating model. Before taking up this position, Erich was the Head of International Relations. He joined SARS in 2001 as Advisor: International Economic Law in the Office of the Commissioner. Before joining SARS, Erich worked at the Department of Trade and Industry in the capacity of Head, International Trade Law. He has participated in the negotiation and drafting of the SADC Trade Protocol, the SACU Agreement and various bilateral trade, customs and investment treaties and worked extensively on cross-border trade, customs and transport issues.  

Erich has obtained the B.Iuris and LLB degrees from the University of Pretoria and the LLM (International Economic Law) degree from the University of South Africa.  He is currently pursuing his doctoral studies through the University of South Africa. His professional and academic focus areas are international trade and customs law, regional economic integration and developmental studies.