Rules of Origin: Acceptable Proof of Origin to claim zero duty under the EU-UK TCA
EU and UK exporters or importers need to prove that they have the right to reduce customs duty to zero. Find out how it works
To benefit from preference, originating products need to be accompanied by the appropriate proof of origin confirming their origin
Statement on origin
The statement on origin is made out by the exporter to self-declare the origin of its product.
by any EU exporter provided that the total value of the consignment is below €6000
by EU exporters that are registered in the Registered Exporter System (REX) for consignments of € 6 000 and above.
by any UK exporter, provided that the total value of the consignment is below €6 000
The exporter makes out a statement on origin based on information demonstrating that the product is originating, including information on the originating status of the materials used in the production of the product (such as supplier’s declaration).
The exporter is responsible for the statement on origin and the information provided being correct and should be prepared to submit all appropriate documents proving the originating status of the products at the request of customs authorities (such as supplier’s declaration).
How to make out a statement of origin
The exporter should complete the following declaration on the invoice or any other document which describes the products concerned in sufficient detail to enable them to be identified (e.g. delivery note or packing list).
The statement on origin can be for one shipment or multiple shipments of identical products during a period not exceeding one year.
(Period: from___________ to __________ (1))
The exporter of the products covered by this document (Exporter Reference No ... (2)) declares that,
except where otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of ... (3) preferential origin.
…………………………………………………………………. (4) (Place and date)
……………………………………………………………........ (Name of the exporter)
(1) If the statement on origin is completed for multiple shipments of identical originating products, indicate the period for which the statement on origin is to apply. That period shall not exceed 12 months. All importations of the product must occur within the period indicated. If the statement on origin is for one shipment, the field may be left blank
(2) For an exporter located in the EU, put your REX number (for consignments above €6 000); For an exporter located in the United Kingdom, this will be the number assigned in accordance with the laws and regulations applicable within the United Kingdom
(3) Indicate the origin of the product: the United Kingdom or the Union.
(4) Place and date may be omitted if the information is contained on the document itself.
LIVE TRAINING
Visit our Rules of Origin HUB: https://www.customsmanager.org/rules-of-origin
The Registered Exporter System (the REX system)
This is the system of self-certification of preferential origin of goods by economic operators who are making out preferential origin documents (statement on origin or origin declaration).
REX is the system of self-certification of preferential origin of goods by businesses that makes out preferential origin documents (statement on origin or origin declaration).
To be entitled to make out a preferential origin document, an exporter/producer has to be registered in a database by the competent authority.
Once registered, the business becomes a 'Registered Exporter'. A REX number is assigned to the business; this number must be indicated on the preferential origin documents.
The REX system was first introduced in the EU Generalised Scheme of Preference for developing countries. Progressively, it is being extended to EU’s exports under other preferential arrangements.
Importer’s knowledge
In some agreements, as an importer, you can claim preference using the knowledge you’ve obtained about the origin of the goods. This is known as ‘importer’s knowledge’. This can be used as an alternative to an origin declaration.
You will need to hold supporting documents or records, which should cover:
the commodity code
a brief description of the production process (including the origin of the goods used)
if the origin was based on ‘wholly obtained’ – give a category for the goods
if the origin was based on ‘sufficiently worked or processed’ give one of the following:
the value of the product as well as the value of all the non-originating or, as appropriate to establish compliance with the value requirement, originating materials used in the production
the weight of the product as well as the weight of the relevant non-originating or, as appropriate to establish compliance with the weight requirement, originating materials used in the product
a list of all the non-originating materials including their commodity code (in two-, four- or six-digit format depending on the origin criteria)
whether the goods have been altered or transformed
if asked by customs, any additional information that will help verify the origin of the goods
If you or the person receiving your goods cannot give this information for commercial reasons, you should use an origin declaration.
Suppliers Declaration
A business that is supplying products/materials in the EU or UK to another EU / UK company (same country), may need to issue a supplier's declaration to declare the origin of your products/materials.
A supplier’s declaration is a declaration by which suppliers provides information to their customers concerning the originating status under specific preferential trade agreements of the goods he supplies. With it, the supplier officially declares the originating status of the goods they provide. Their customers can then use this information to prove the preferential origin of the exported goods.
Please note that a supplier’s declaration may never be used as a document on origin for claiming preferential treatment at importation.
If you are an importer
You must have proof of the originating status of the product before claiming preference.
This may be a statement on origin from the exporter on a commercial invoice or another commercial document that describes the goods, the text of the Statement would be included in the agreement - this is known as an invoice or origin declaration.
It could also be supporting documents and records if you’re claiming preference using your ‘importers knowledge, if you’re using importer’s knowledge you must get enough evidence that the goods qualify as originating. This may involve the exporter providing a range of supporting documentation. If you cannot get that evidence, then the exporter may be able to give you a statement on origin.
You must also:
claim for preference by completing the relevant part and declaring the proof of origin on your customs import declaration
give the proof of origin to the customs authorities, if requested by the customs authorities
maintain records for at least 4 years
If you’re an exporter
You must:
hold evidence that the goods meet the relevant rules of origin before issuing a statement on origin
understand if you need to get a declaration from your supplier - for UK-EU trade, businesses do need supplier’s declarations from business suppliers in place when the goods are exported, and businesses may be asked to retrospectively provide a supplier’s declaration if not done before.
give your customer (the importer) one of the following:
a statement on the origin on a commercial invoice or another commercial document that describes the goods - the text of the statement would be included in the agreement, this is known as an invoice or origin declaration
supporting documents and records if your customer is claiming preference using their ‘importers knowledge’
maintain records for at least 4 years
Training
Free Consultation
Free Webinar
About Customs Manager Ltd.
We are on a mission to empower people with import, export and transport responsibilities with helpful advice, insightful training and relevant trade intelligence services. We offer consultancy and expert advice, training (live, in-house and on-demand), support for your import and export business and customs clearance/broker services into the UK (Great Britain) and Northern Ireland. We devote all our passion and energy to helping businesses grow faster cross-border. Working with us means having your own multilingual Customs Manager on standby to help you trade effectively, efficiently and, of course, compliantly, wherever you want to go in the world. We even file customs declarations for you.
Join us on social media
· YouTube
· LEAVE us a POSITIVE REVIEW ON GOOGLE
Hey, I got told I need to subscribe and pay to ready your expert blogs! Where is my free stuff?
Well, remember the old saying, there is no such thing as a free lunch! Expert content creation takes time and effort, not even mentioning the years of learning and studying the geeky subjects of customs, export controls and free trade agreements. So, if you like what we are doing, please help out and subscribe to our annual plan, allowing you to access expert content for a low price affordable to any business and any customs manager / global trade professional.
As a Premium Subscriber, you get VIP treatment and access to new, fresh content every week. You also get access to the entire library of advice, more than 400 blog entries and counting. We also monitor legislation for you and let you know of all the changes, so you never miss an important legal change. At the same time, you save valuable time by engaging our dedicated trade specialists to carry the monitoring out for them. Premium subscribers also unlock all other content on the Customs Manager’s Ltd. website, including our hubs and resources helping you to stay compliant in daily tasks. Being a paying subscriber provides you with vital thought leadership development to empower you to trade effectively, efficiently and, of course, compliantly, across borders. And if you want us to cover other countries than the EU, UK and a bit of the US, then just ask. Reach out in the chat or by email.
Important Notice
Customs Manager Ltd. owns the copyright in this information.
You are not allowed to use this information in any way that infringes the intellectual property rights in it. You may have to hold a valid licence to use this information. A licence can be obtained by becoming a Premium subscriber to the Customs Managers’ Trade Intelligence service. As a Premium subscriber, you may download and print this information which you may then use, copy or reproduce for your own internal non-profit-making purposes.
However, under no circumstances are you permitted to use, copy or reproduce this information with a view to profit or gain.
In addition, you must not sell or distribute this information to third parties who are not members of your organization, whether for monetary payment or otherwise.
This information is intended to serve as general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. The application and impact of laws can vary widely based on the specific facts involved. This information should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional legal or other competent advisers. Before making any decision or taking any action, you should consult a Customs Manager Ltd. professional.
In no circumstances will Customs Manager Ltd, be liable for any decision made or action was taken in reliance on the information contained within this document or for any consequential, special or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.