International Certificate of Origin Guidelines

Certificates of origin (COs) constitute one of the most important trade documents required by businesses, banks and customs officials to authenticate the origin of exported goods. Annually, miilions of certificates of origin are issued by chambers of commerce around the world.

Despite no significant changes to the rules of non-preferential origins in the past decade, customs procedures are fast changing in tandem with the emerging worldwide trends towards self-certification, greater delegation for the issue of preferential certifications of origins, blockchain technologies, and digitalisation. The term ‚digital origin statement‘, in the future, will be used alongside ‚certificates of origin‘ as more chambers are offering digital solutions for the application, issue and verification of their certificates of origin.

This revised edition:

• provides an overview of the latest COs developments, notably digitalization;
• deals with the issuing procedures for non-preferential COs;
• covers the determination and verification of origin;
• explains chamber’s involvement with preferential COs.

This edition also introduces the International Certificates of Origin Accreditation Chain, which was created in 2012 and is part of the commitment of ICC World Chambers Federation in its push for global harmonisation in the CO issue process.

This universal set of international procedures, supplemented with samples as well as best practice, is an indispensable and comprehensive guide for chambers wishing to guarantee their commitment to the highest level of quality, implementing transparent and accountable issuance and verification procedures.

Table of contens:

Message from the World Customs Organization (WCO)

Message from the World Trade Organization (WTO) Introduction

• Origin in International Trade and the Role of Chambers of Commerce
• How to Read and Use the Guideline

Part A

The Nature of COs and Digital Origin Statements

• The Nature of COs and Digital Origin Statements

Part B

How chambers go about issuing Cos

B.I. Dealing with Applicants and Issuing Procedure

Chapter 2 Training Requirements

Chapter 3The Applicant

Chapter 4 Handling of Blank Forms

Chapter 5 Completion

Chapter 6 Daily Practice

Chapter 7 Keeping Records

Chapter 8 Replacement of Documents and Fraud

Chapter 9 Confidentiality

B.II.—Determination of Origin

Chapter 10 Determination of Origin

Chapter 11 Dealing with the Manufacturer as Applicant

Chapter 12 Dealing with a Non-Manufacturer Applicant

Chapter 13 Special Cases in Origin Assessment

B.III.—General Conditions for Issuers

Chapter 14 Issuing Bodies

Chapter 15 Insurance

Chapter 16 Information for Chief Executives of Issuing Chambers

Part C

Preferential Origin Documents

Chapter 17 Preferential Origin Documents

PART D

Certification of Trade Documents

Chapter 18 Certification of Trade Documents

Chapter 19 False Security

PART E

Role and Objectives of ICC WCF

Chapter 20 International Certificate of Origin (ICO) Council

Chapter 21 The International Certificate of Origin Accreditation Chain (CO Chain)

Chapter 22 CO Online Training

Chapter 23 Electronic Certificate of Origin (eCO) Task Force

Appendices

Appendix 1 Sample Format for Formal Undertaking

Appendix 2 Sample Format for Registration Form

Appendix 3 International Standard Template for Certificates of Origin

Appendix 4 International Standard Template for Certificates of Origin

Appendix 5 Samples of CO Forms from Several Countries

Appendix 6.A.Sample Format for Letter of Indemnity

Appendix 6.B.Sample Format for Letter of Indemnity

Appendix 7 Sample Format for Manufacturer’s Declaration

Appendix 8 Sample Conditions to Be Fulfilled by Issuing Bodies

Appendix 9 ‘Force Majeure’ Certificate

Appendix 10 Useful Terminologie