CO Guidelines

A Certificate of Origin is a document which identifies the origin of goods being exported. It is required by customs as one of the key bases for applying tariff rates. Most chambers of commerce and some trade associations have been authorized by their Customs agencies to certify non-preferential, and in some cases, preferential certificates of origin.

Thus, a chambers’ role in the issuance and attestation of Certificates of Origin is both unique and vital in facilitating international trade.

The ICC WCF International Certificate of Origin Guidelines is the result of 18 months’ work by ICC’s World Chambers Federation, incorporating the best practices from several national chambers and organizations to produce the first international procedures and guidelines manual for chambers in the issuance of non-preferential certificates of origin.

Widely accepted, they have been translated into six languages, with the WCO acknowledging its contribution to the harmonization of issuance procedures and as “a most welcome promotion to trade facilitation and contribution to a more efficient and effective trade environment, both for governments and the trading society”.

• Use/purpose of COs
• Definitions and language
• The role of chambers
• Authority of chambers of commerce
• Place of issue
• Printing and distribution of forms
• Price and issuing fees
• Issuing process of certificates
• Determination and verification of origin
• Supporting documents
• Concessions and prohibitions
• Training requirements
• Changes or problems with certificates of origin
• A supplement for CEO's
• Printable sample letters and forms