Certificate of Origin Circulars

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e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : FRCP 1000/2/1

29 March 2007

Dear Sirs,

Certificate of Origin Circular No. 5/2007

Commercial Information Circular No. 140/2007

The Mainland and Hong Kong
Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA)

Origin Criteria for Roasted Coffee, not Decaffeinated

Introduction

This circular sets out the revised origin criteria for roasted coffee, not decaffeinated under Mainland 2007 tariff code 0901 2100.

CEPA Origin Criteria

2. On 28 March 2007, the Mainland General Administration of Customs issued the Notice No. 10, 2007 which announced the revised CEPA rules of origin for roasted coffee, not decaffeinated under Mainland 2007 tariff code 0901 2100 as follows:

"(1) Manufactured from coffee beans. The principal processes are roasting and grinding. If mixing is required, it must also be done in Hong Kong; or

(2) (a) Manufactured from coffee beans. The principal process is roasting; and (b) to fulfil the value-added content requirement."

Copy of the Notice is attached at the Annex (pdf format) for reference.

3. Accordingly, the origin criteria for roasted coffee, not decaffeinated classified under Mainland 2007 tariff code 0901 2100 are amended with effect from 1 April 2007. Traders may wish to note that the criterion marked as (1) above is the existing origin criterion for tariff code 0901 2100. The one marked as (2) above is a newly added criterion. Roasted coffee, not decaffeinated which satisfies either criterion (1) or (2) above is eligible to apply for Certificate of Hong Kong Origin - CEPA ("CO(CEPA)") and claim CEPA tariff preference with effect from 1 April 2007.

CO(CEPA) Application

4. Manufacturers who wish to include product development cost in their CO(CEPA) applications for meeting the "value-added content" origin rule for roasted coffee, not decaffeinated (criterion (2) above) must comply with additional conditions, such as returning the Declaration and Undertaking Form(s) and an annual cost accounts to the Department. Details are set out in the circular on "Additional Conditions for Including Product Development Cost in CO(CEPA) Applications" issued on 14 November 2003. Manufacturers must also comply with other conditions of issuing CO(CEPA) as stipulated in the circular on "Mainland 2007 Tariff Codes for Application for Certificate of Hong Kong Origin - CEPA ("CO(CEPA)")" issued on 31 December 2006. The circulars concerned can be downloaded from the Department's webpage <http://www.tid.gov.hk/english/cepa/tradegoods/trade_goods.html>.

Enquiries

5. Should you require further information on the content of this circular, please contact us through any of the following channels -

Yours faithfully,

 

(Steven M L MA)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry