Certificate of Origin Circulars

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

Ref: FRCP 1000/2/1

31 May 2012

Dear Sirs,

Certificate of Origin Circular No. 4/2012

Commercial Information Circular No. 393/2012

Mainland and Hong Kong
Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA)

CEPA Rules of Origin for Goods Applying
for Zero Tariff in the First Half of 2012

Introduction

This circular sets out the rules of origin (ROOs) for goods applying for zero tariff under CEPA in the first half of 2012.

ROO for Goods Applying for Zero Tariff in the First Half of 2012

2. Since the implementation of CEPA, the Mainland and Hong Kong have reached agreement on the ROOs for 1,732 Mainland 2012 tariff codes. These products will be eligible for zero tariff preference under CEPA provided that their respective ROOs and relevant conditions are met. With effect from 1 July 2012, 7 Mainland tariff codes will be added to the list of goods eligible for tariff preference under CEPA. The relevant tariff codes and the corresponding ROOs are set out at the Annex (pdf format). A full list of the 1,739 tariff codes under CEPA and their respective ROOs can be downloaded from the following website: http://www.tid.gov.hk/english/cepa/tradegoods/files/mainland_2012.pdf.

3. For the CEPA ROO for "smoked Atlantic salmon, except offal for human consumption" product (Mainland HS code 0305 4110), the raw materials must be originated from countries or territories which have signed preferential trade agreements ^(Note) with the Mainland prior to 2012.

Application and Issue of Certificate of Origin – CEPA ["CO(CEPA)"]

4. Traders may wish to note that the implementation date under CEPA for the products classified under the 7 Mainland 2012 tariff codes mentioned in paragraph 2 above is 1 July 2012. Traders can submit the CO(CEPA) applications to the Trade and Industry Department or one of the five Government Approved Certification Organizations (GACOs)¹ to cover the products under the 7 Mainland tariff codes by around end June 2012. Such CO(CEPA) applications, if approved, will be valid for claiming zero tariff preference starting from 1 July 2012.

5. CO(CEPA)s will only be issued to applicants who have properly submitted their applications and fulfilled all the relevant requirements. The relevant requirements include, among others, the CEPA ROOs, the requirement of Factory Registration, manufacturer's authorized signatory, labelling requirements, inclusion of product development cost in the applicable CO(CEPA) applications, etc. For more information on the conditions and applications procedures for CO(CEPA), please refer to Certificate of Origin Circular No. 15/2011 dated 30 December 2011.

Enquiries

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

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Janice LAU)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry

1. The five GACOs are the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; the Federation of Hong Kong Industries; the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and the Indian Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong.

(Note): The preferential trade agreements signed by the Mainland prior to 2012 include: Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement, Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, Framework Agreement on China-ASEAN Comprehensive Economic Cooperation, China-Chile Free Trade Agreement, China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, China-Peru Free Trade Agreement, China-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement and Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement. The above information is for reference only and information announced by the Mainland shall prevail. Traders may visit the following website for latest information: http://fta.mofcom.gov.cn/index.shtml.