Though exporters can apply online for Certificates of Origin, in some countries documents still have to be physically stamped, posted back to, couriered or collected by the exporter before the certificate can be obtained. This process can take hours, sometimes days.
To avoid such hold-ups, earlier this month the British Chambers of Commerce launched a new service called e-Cert eXpress. This efficient system allows officially stamped Certificates of Origin to be sent back to the exporter electronically, a process which can be completed in minutes and hours, rather than days.
John Dunsmure, Managing Director of the British Chambers of Commerce said
:
“In 2004, £80 billion worth of business was done outside the EU and almost 500 000 EC and Arab Certificates of Origin were issued. e-Cert eXpress is the next step in our aim of making the production of export documentation a completely paperless process. Not only are there benefits to British exporters in terms of speed, simplicity and ease-of-use, there are also benefits to their customers through greater efficiency, better responsiveness and improved customer care.”
Certificates of Origin are essential for exporting companies to comply with customs requirements in the importing state, as well as meeting banking and other commercial criteria. Chambers issue and attest Certificates of Origin and other trade documents, a role that is vital to the facilitation of international trade, especially in an increasingly differentiated rule-of-origin trading environment that lacks international certification standards.
The ICC World Chambers Federation (WCF) reinforces and enhances the position of chambers of commerce as the natural agent in the issuance and attestation of Certificates of Origin and to use WCF’s global stature and platform to develop and/or harmonize certification standards and procedures to benefit traders and customs administrations.
The only other country to WCF’s knowledge in which Chambers have been able to an electronic Certificates of Origin service is Singapore. Their system accepts electronic applications from exporters and their agents, issues Certificates of Origin electronically, and allows electronic transmission of an approved Certificate of Origin to a designated party (e.g. a buyer or bank for Letter of Credit clearance).
Contacts:
Lee Ju Song
Chair – WCF CO Task Force
DeputyDirector, Singapore International Chamber of Commerce
Steve Baker
Export
British Chambers of Commerce
Tel: +44 2476 694484
More details on the British Chambers of Commerce service can be found at
www.chamberonline.co.uk/exportzone
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World Chambers Federation
