Post on 18-Dec-2015
WELCOME TO WCF Webinar Series – Certificates of Origin (COs)
Steve Baker, Manager of International Trade Certification for the British Chambers of Commerce, will be our featured speaker
Luz Rodriguez, Project Manager at ICC World Chambers Federation, will be our host
Enjoy the session!
www.worldchambersfederation.org
INTRODUCTION TO COs
TODAY’S SESSION:
What are COs and why they are needed? How to determine and establish origin? Essential procedures and checklists for issuing COs Confidentiality rules and anti-fraud measures Customer care procedures for quality service, consistency
and confidentiality COs trends – PCOs and ECOs
INTRODUCTION TO COs
WHAT IS A CO?
A Certificate of Origin (CO) is a document attesting that goods in a particular export shipment are wholly obtained or produced or manufactured or processed in a particular country
Example: UK history and structure
European Community - CO
INTRODUCTION TO COs
EXAMPLES OF CO FORMS
International Template for COs Kyoto Convention - 1999
CCPIT/CCOIC - China Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry - UAE
INTRODUCTION TO COs
HISTORY
1973 - UK joined European Community- European regulations- European Certificate of Origin
1991 - The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between BERR (DTI) and British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) was signed
INTRODUCTION TO COs
HISTORY
The MOU set out the relationship between BERR (DTI) & BCC, it brought about 2 main changes:– Issuing bodies are authorized by BERR (DTI)– The requirement for certification staff to be trained
Training funded by issuers quarterly fee
INTRODUCTION TO COs
STANDARDS OF AUTHORITY
Training– “Certificate of Competence” – Mandatory staff certification: 2 people + – Renewed every 3 years following mandatory refresher course– Authorized signatories – Contact ICC World Chambers Federation
Inspection– Regular programme of inspection to ensure adequate facilities – Storage provisions for maintenance of records and files– Security to safeguard all confidential trade documents
INTRODUCTION TO COs
STRUCTURE
Department of Trade & Industry (now known as BERR)
British Chambers of Commerce (BCC)
Certification Practitioners Group (CPG)
Issuing bodies
INTRODUCTION TO COs
UPON APPLICATION
Obtain from applicant valid undertaking agreeing to:– Abide by the rules– Indemnify the issuing body against future claims for
errors in certificates
List of authorized signatories from applicant, renewable annually
Formal undertakings must be renewed every 2 years, unless they are combined with a signature list as one form, when they must be renewed annually
INTRODUCTION TO COs
THE CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN
Why needed– Official reasons
• Importing country regulations
– Commercial reasons• Customer request
– Financial reasons• Letter of credit
INTRODUCTION TO COs
ABOUT ORIGIN
Exporters must declare the origin of goods and complete the reverse of the application (pink) copy of the CO
It is important that documentation staff understand the rules of origin that apply to certificates
INTRODUCTION TO COs
ABOUT ORIGIN
European community regulations have 2 different sets of rules for determining origin:
Non preferential rules of origin for COs
Preferential origin rules for EUR1/ATR/suppliers declarations
INTRODUCTION TO COs
2009 WCF WORLD COs SURVEY RESULTS12 MILLION COs
Switzerland 130,000Belgium 229,000France 455,000Dubai 600,000Turkey 700,000Italy 750,000China 3 million
INTRODUCTION TO COs
ABOUT ORIGIN
Non Preferential Origin
– European community regulations 2913/92 and 2454/93 apply
– Both sets of rules are in PROCEDURES MANUAL
INTRODUCTION TO COs
ABOUT ORIGIN
Preferential Origin
– Movement of goods between EC and countries with a preferential trade agreement
– EUR1 or ATR certificates required– Chambers now authenticate these documents– HM revenue and customs are responsible for
verification of origin status– Rules and procedures contained in customs notices
812, 827, 828 & 832
INTRODUCTION TO COs
HOW TO ESTABLISH ORIGIN
Identify goods
– Goods must be clearly identified
– Normal trade descriptions should be used
– Brand names should NOT be used on their own
INTRODUCTION TO COs
HOW TO ESTABLISH ORIGIN
Applicant makes origin claim on reverse of application (pink) copy
Each of the 3 possible origin claims has specific criteria which the goods must satisfy
INTRODUCTION TO COs
HOW TO ESTABLISH ORIGIN
Box 1 will be ticked where the goods are wholly obtained or produced in the UK
- Animal, vegetable or mineral products (incl. fish)
- Products made exclusively from any of these
- Scrap, waste or used products for recycling
INTRODUCTION TO COs
HOW TO ESTABLISH ORIGIN
Box 2 should be ticked where the goods are of UK origin by virtue of the processing that the goods have been subjected to in the UK
i.e. because of economically justified substantial process
INTRODUCTION TO COs
HOW TO ESTABLISH ORIGIN
Box 3 is completed where the goods are not of UK origin
Supporting proof of origin is required– Check the evidence provided– Does it clearly support the origin
claim– If in doubt request further proof
INTRODUCTION TO COs
REVISION OF CERTIFICATION PROCESS
4 primary checking operations
– Formal undertaking– Signature– Face checking– Accuracy of origin claim
INTRODUCTION TO COs
THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS
Formal undertaking– Is a formal undertaking from the applicant held on file?– Must be renewed every 2 years (annually if combined with
signature list)– Company agrees to abide by Standard Rules and
indemnifies Chamber against inaccuracy of documents– A template of a formal undertaking and letters of indemnity
for members and non-members are available in the ICC WCF International CO Guidelines
INTRODUCTION TO COs
THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS
Signatures
– A list of authorized signatories must be held on file
– Specimen signatures must be provided (renewed annually)
INTRODUCTION TO COs
THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS
Face Checking
– Is product described in sufficient detail
– Are all necessary fields completed
– Are all documents consistent
– Metric system must be used
INTRODUCTION TO COs
THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS
Accuracy of origin claim
– Origin claim must be checked– Supporting documents– Insufficient evidence - further proof required– Possible company visit?– Maybe a phone call sufficient
INTRODUCTION TO COs
THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS
Remember the 4 primary checking operations:
Formal undertaking
Signature
Face checking
Accuracy of origin claim
INTRODUCTION TO COs
THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS
Double Checking
– Once the entire checking operation is complete the documents should be passed to another staff member to be double checked
INTRODUCTION TO COs
THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS
Stamping and signing– When satisfied certify the certificate– The official stamp applied to box 8– Authorized signatory signs in box 8
(CEOs must attend Certification Assessment course)
– Authorized signatory name stamp to box 8
This procedure will vary for EXPRESS CERTIFICATES
INTRODUCTION TO COs
CERTIFICATION OF INVOICES AND DOCS
Issuing bodies authenticate the signature on invoices, packing lists, declarations etc.
Face check for obvious errors or statements that are clearly false
INTRODUCTION TO COs
CONFIDENTIALITY
Office environment
Duty of confidentiality to customer
Quiet area
Visits by external organizations - Fraud Squad, MI5, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) - see next slide
INTRODUCTION TO COs
FRAUD
Inform your chief executive immediately
Ensure there is an appropriate statutory order before handing over documents for examination
For further advice contact WCF
INTRODUCTION TO COs
CUSTOMER CARE
Quality Service
– Follow CPG guidelines
– Checks are necessary to avoid delays for goods and payments
– If documents are incorrect advise in friendly but firm manner and offer assistance where needed
INTRODUCTION TO COs
CUSTOMER CARE
Consistency:– Companies need to feel confident in the consistency
of service offered by the chamber network
– Companies should be made aware of opening times for documentation
– Pricing
– Availability of e-Cert for EC and Arab docs
INTRODUCTION TO COs
CUSTOMER CARE
Confidentiality
– Segregation of personal callers
– Stamping of documents away from the public area
INTRODUCTION TO COs
RECENT CO TRENDS
Preferential Certificates of Origin (PCO)
Electronic Certificates of Origin (ECO)
INTRODUCTION TO COs
WCF SUPPORT TO CHAMBERS
ICC WCF CO Task Force
ICC WCF International CO Guidelines (www.iccbooks.com)
www.worldchambersfederation.orgwww.worldchambersfederation.org
Thank you for participating in our WCF Webinar on COs!
CONTACT:Steve Baker
s.baker@britishchambers.org.uk+44 24 7647 2538
British Chambers of Commerce
Luz Rodriguezlrz@iccwbo.org
+33 1 49 53 28 42ICC World Chambers Federation
38 Cours Albert 1er
75008 Paris, France
LISTEN:To a recording of this webinar at:www.iccwbo.org/wcf on the COs page of our webinar series
CongressLink