Certificate of Origin Circulars

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

Ref : FRCP 1000/1/1

4 December 2008

Dear Sirs,

Certificate of Origin Circular No. 15/2008

Commercial Information Circular No. 607/2008

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

Origin Criteria for Medicaments

Introduction

This circular sets out the revised origin criteria for medicaments under Mainland 2008 tariff codes 3004 1011–3004 9053, 3004 9059, 3004 9060 and 3004 9090.

CEPA Origin Criteria

2. On 26 November 2008, the Mainland General Administration of Customs issued the Notice No. 86, 2008 which announced the revised CEPA origin criteria for some medicaments under Mainland 2008 tariff codes 3004 1011–3004 9053, 3004 9059, 3004 9060 and 3004 9090 as follows:

1. Mainland tariff codes 3004 1011–3004 9053

"Manufactured from chemical ingredients. The principal processes are dissolving and mixing according to proportion, ratio or scale to form tablets, cream or ointment, oral liquid preparation (elixir, oral solution, suspension), lotion, capsules or other forms of pharmaceutical products; or

Change in Tariff Heading, except change from Tariff Heading no. 3003."

2. Mainland tariff codes 3004 9059 and 3004 9090

"Manufactured from chemical/herbal ingredients. The principal processes are: (a) dissolving and mixing according to proportion, ratio or scale to form tablets, cream or ointment, oral liquid preparation (elixir, oral solution, suspension), lotion, capsules or other forms of pharmaceutical products; or (b) cooking, mixing and grinding. If dissolving and/or drying and/or filtering is/are required after grinding, such process/processes must also be done in Hong Kong; or

Change in Tariff Heading, except change from Tariff Heading no. 3003."

3. Mainland tariff code 3004 9060

"Manufactured from chemical ingredients. The principal processes are: (a) dissolving and mixing according to proportion, ratio or scale to form tablets, cream or ointment, oral liquid preparation (elixir, oral solution, suspension), lotion, capsules or other forms of pharmaceutical products; or (b) cooking, mixing and grinding. If dissolving and/or drying and/or filtering is/are required after grinding, such process/processes must also be done in Hong Kong; or

Change in Tariff Heading, except change from Tariff Heading no. 3003."

The copy of the Notice can be found in the website of the Mainland Customs at http://www.customs.gov.cn/publish/portal0/tab1/info143819.htm .

3. Accordingly, the origin criteria for medicaments under Mainland 2008 tariff codes 3004 1011 - 3004 9053, 3004 9059, 3004 9060 and 3004 9090 are amended with effect from 1 January 2009. The medicaments concerned which satisfy the above origin criteria are eligible to apply for Certificate of Hong Kong Origin - CEPA ("CO(CEPA)") and claim CEPA tariff preference with effect from 1 January 2009. 

Enquiries

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

Yours faithfully,

(Paul SHEN)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry