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

Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA)

Certificate of Hong Kong Origin (CEPA) and Related Information

Under CEPA, all goods of Hong Kong origin can enjoy zero tariff preference upon importation into the Mainland1. For the purpose of claiming zero tariff benefits, every consignment of goods to the Mainland must be accompanied by a Certificate of Hong Kong Origin - CEPA (CO(CEPA)) issued by Trade and Industry Department (TID) or one of the Government Approved Certification Organizations (GACOs)2.

For the purpose of applying for CO(CEPA), manufacturers should first apply to TID for a Factory Registration to demonstrate that their factories possess sufficient capacity to produce goods for export.

The Agreement on Trade in Goods (the Agreement) of CEPA stipulates that a good will qualify as an originating good in Hong Kong if it meets other applicable provisions of the Agreement, as well as:

  • the good is wholly obtained or produced in Hong Kong; or
  • the good is produced in Hong Kong exclusively from originating materials; or
  • the good is produced using non-originating materials in Hong Kong, and
    1. the good falls within the scope of the "Product Specific Rules of Origin", and complies with the corresponding change in tariff classification, regional value content (RVC), manufacturing or processing operations or other requirements;
    2. the good does not fall within the scope of the "Product Specific Rules of Origin", but complies with the requirement that the RVC is greater than or equal to 30% when calculated by the build-up method, or the RVC is greater than or equal to 40% when calculated by the build-down method ("General Rule").

For more information on the rules of origin and CO(CEPA) under the Agreement, please refer to the Certificate of Origin Circular No. 4/2018 and latest CEPA "Product Specific Rules of Origin" (updated on 1 July 2023).

For details of the requirements for CO(CEPA) application procedures, please refer to the Certificate of Origin Circular No. 5/2018. For other related information, please refer to the following weblinks, Certificate of Origin Circulars and Note for traders.

  • Certificate of Origin Circulars / Note for Traders
(i) General Requirements
Circular No. Date of Issue Subject
3/2022 16.05.2022 The Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA)
Agreement on Trade in Goods (The Agreement)
Product Specific Rules of Origin (PSR)
7/2018 18.12.2018 The Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA)
Agreement on Trade in Goods (The Agreement)
Certificate of Hong Kong Origin - CEPA (CO(CEPA))
Requirements for Including the Value of Mainland Origin Goods and Materials (including the Raw Materials and Component Parts) in the "Regional Value Content"
6/2018 18.12.2018 The Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA)
Agreement on Trade in Goods (The Agreement)
Certificate of Hong Kong Origin - CEPA (CO(CEPA))
Requirements for Including Product Development Costs in the "Regional Value Content"
5/2018 14.12.2018 The Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA)
Agreement on Trade in Goods (The Agreement)
Certificate of Hong Kong Origin - CEPA (CO(CEPA))
4/2018 14.12.2018 The Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA)
Agreement on Trade in Goods (The Agreement)
Exporting Goods Originating in Hong Kong to the Mainland
11/2005 16.11.2005 The Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA)
Revised CEPA Rules of Origin for Watches and Registration of Hong Kong Brand Watches
(ii) Request for Revisions to CEPA Rules of Origin
Circular No. Date of Issue Subject
4/2023 01.12.2023 Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA)
Agreement on Trade in Goods (The Agreement)
Request for Revisions to CEPA Rules of Origin (ROO)
(Arrangements for Making Requests in 2024)
(iii) Note for Traders Lodging CO(CEPA) Applications (August 2021)
  • For details on codes relating to the Mainland Customs port, mode of transport and quantity unit used in CO(CEPA) applications, please click here.

1 Not including those prohibited by the Mainland's rules and regulations and those prohibited as a result of the implementation of international treaties by the Mainland, as well as products that the Mainland has made special commitments in relevant international agreements.

2 The 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.