Press Releases

Application for CO(CEPA) starts tomorrow
Monday, December 29, 2003

Trade and Industry Department (TID) and the five Government Approved Certification Organisations including the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, the Indian Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, will start receiving applications for Certificate of Hong Kong Origin-CEPA (CO(CEPA)) tomorrow (December 30) after Hong Kong have been notified of the 2004 Mainland tariff codes .

Under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), the Mainland agreed to eliminate tariff on imported goods from Hong Kong in 273 Mainland 2001 tariff codes from January 1, 2004. Goods claiming CEPA tariff preference must fulfill CEPA rules of origin and be supported by a CO(CEPA).

Under the new set of 2004 Mainland tariff codes, the 273 products have been regrouped and reclassified into 374 tariff lines. A spokesman of TID reminded traders to use the 2004 Mainland tariff codes when submitting applications for CO(CEPA). Under the CEPA, traders must fill in the applicable Mainland tariff codes in their CO(CEPA) applications.

A table entitled "CEPA Initial Phase of Tariff Preference - Mainland 2004 tariff codes, product description and origin criteria" setting out the applicable Mainland tariff codes and corresponding origin criteria can be found on TID's webpage www.tid.gov.hk/tc_chi/cepa/trade_goods.html. (The English version will be available shortly.) Hard copies are also available at TID Certification Branch's Customer Service Centre.

"To expedite processing time, applicants should provide details accurately. They are advised to read the "Note for Traders Lodging CO(CEPA) Applications via EDI" carefully before applying for CO(CEPA). Traders can access TID's webpage www.tid.gov.hk/english/aboutus/publications/registcert/registcert.html for the Note and check the same site for regular updates," the spokesman said.

Completed applications can be sent via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) to TID or any of the other five Government Approved Certification Organisations, starting from 30 December 2003.

Detailed application procedures can be found in TID Certificate of Origin Circulars No.23/2003, No.24/2003 and No.27/2003 which can be downloaded from TID's webpage www.tid.gov.hk/english/cepa/trade_goods.html.

For enquiries, please contact:

The Certification Branch of the TID
3/F., Trade and Industry Department Tower
700 Nathan Road, Kowloon
Tel : 3403 6432/2398 5525
Fax : 2787 6048
Email : cepaco@tid.gov.hk

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