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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city
MY COLOUR

Certificate of Origin Circular

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref. : TID CL CO/240

1 February 2013

Dear Sirs,

Certificate of Origin Circular No. 2/2013

Certificate of Origin - Re-export

Introduction

This circular serves to remind traders of the documentary requirements adopted by the five Government Approved Certification Organizations (GACOs) (Note 1) for the issue of Certificates of Origin - Re-export (Re-export COs), and update the 'multiple certificate' arrangement to be adopted from 4 February 2013. The Certificate of Origin Circulars No. 19/91 of 23 December 1991 and No. 8/92 of 30 September 1992 are hereby superseded.

Policy on Certificates of Origin - Re-export

2.The issue of Re-export COs is to facilitate re-export trade. Re-export COs are only issued when there is established proof of origin of the goods to be re-exported and where there can be no reasonable doubt upon the goods' origin.

Documentary Requirements

3.In applying for a Re-export CO, an applicant must produce documentary evidence to substantiate the declared origin of the goods which are the subject of his application. The general requirement is a certificate of origin issued by an authorized certification body in the originating country/place of the goods in question. In exceptional circumstances, e.g., when the goods in question come from a place where no known Certification service exists, an application for a Re-export CO may be approved by a GACO provided that the applicant can produce documentary proof that the goods concerned would have qualified for the declared origin under normal origin rules. Such documentary proof may include commercial invoices issued by the supplier evidencing the origin of the goods, transport documents (bills of lading, air waybills), export documents (export permit, export customs clearance permit etc.), manufacturer's production records and other proof of origin conferring manufacturing processes being undertaken in the declared place of origin.

4.GACOs do not issue Re-export COs for any goods about the origin of which there is any doubt. Under the Protection of Non-Government Certificates of Origin Ordinance (Cap. 324), a GACO has discretion to turn down any application for a Re-export CO without assigning a reason. Applicants are therefore advised to secure a certificate of origin from the originating country/place as supporting document if they wish to avoid delay or rejection of their application.

'Multiple Certificate' Arrangement

5.Since 1991, to facilitate the efficient processing of applications for Re-export COs, the five GACOs have implemented the 'multiple certificate' arrangement under which the number of suppliers that can be covered by Re-export applications is subject to the total value of the goods concerned. Subsequent to a review of the above arrangement, the five GACOs will as from 4 February 2013 adjust the value limit for the arrangement :

  1. For applications covering goods valued at more than HK$12,000, the number of suppliers declared will be restricted to one only. If an application involves more than one supplier, it should be split up to form more than one application.
  2. For applications covering goods valued at HK$12,000 or less, the number of suppliers declared on an application can be more than one but not more than three.

Warning

6.All Re-export COs are subject to a system of consignment inspections conducted by GACOs. Officers of the Customs and Excise Department may also conduct investigations on any Re-export COs if necessary. False declaration or provision of false documents in support of an application for a Re-export CO is an offence under the Protection of Non-Government Certificates of Origin Ordinance (Cap. 324) and may result in legal and/or administrative actions being taken against the offenders concerned.

Enquiries

7.For further information relating to Re-export COs, please contact the five GACOs listed below :

  1. the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (tel: 2395 5515)
  2. the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (tel: 2396 3318)
  3. the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong (tel: 2542 8613)
  4. the Indian Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong (tel: 2525 0138)
  5. the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (tel: 2526 0623)

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Winnie CHIEN)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry

Note 1 : The five Government Approved Certification Organizations are the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; the Federation of Hong Kong Industries; the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; the Indian Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong; and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce.