A new manual standardizing procedures for issuing and attesting to certificates of origin has been produced by ICC's World Chambers Federation (WCF).

According to WCF's recent survey of chambers in all countries delivering certificates of origin, the overwhelming majority wanted a set of international guidelines and procedures to support them in their work with these increasingly important trade documents.

Chambers of commerce all over the world deal with thousands of trade documents daily as companies prepare their international trade shipments. A certificate of origin is one of these documents. It identifies the origin of goods being exported and 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 issue non-preferential certificates of origin; some also issue preferential certificates of origin.

International Certificate of Origin Guidelines is the result of 18 months' work by the World Chambers Federation. Incorporating best practices from several national chamber organizations, it is the first international procedures and guidelines manual on issuing non-preferential certificates of origin.

The voluntary rules outlined in this book will help govern the conduct of business across borders, benefiting traders and customs administrations, in addition to making the certification process easier for chambers.

"Your organization's entrepreneurial spirit shown in this field will complement the endeavours within the international community of states to harmonize the non-preferential rules of origin," said Chriticles Mwansa, head of the World Customs Organization Tariff and Trade Affairs Directorate, when the project was recently presented to the WCO's Technical Committee on Rules of Origin.

"I am convinced that harmonization in the field of origin certification will present a most welcome promotion to trade facilitation and will contribute to a more efficient and effective trade environment, both for governments and the trading society," Mr Mwansa said.

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