Preferential origin: reminders on the use of EUR 1 certificates

Within the framework of the EU's preferential agreements with its foreign economic partners, goods having an EU originating status within the meaning of strict rules may benefit from a reduction or exemption of customs duties on imports into the country of destination.

In this context and in accordance with the evidence provided for in the agreements, EUR 1 certificates have been used for all time.

EUR1 is a paper certificate which assumes the responsibility of the exporter and which must be presented (original of the mandatory document) to the destination after being covered by customs at the time of exportation.

In its note published on 8 December, Customs wished to recall the basic and strict rules according to which the certificate must be presented for visa at the time of exportation:

– List of countries with which the certificate is used: available on the page dedicated to EU preferential agreements;

– How to fill the front Note on this point that Customs advises to use the EU statement rather than the specific countries at box 2 and 4 level;

– How to fill the back the document: this part shall specify the means by which the preferential character of the goods (in relation to the rules of origin of the requested agreement) will be checked and the supporting documents which the exporter undertakes to submit at the first customs application;

– Visa conditions a posteriori or duplicate certificates and the possibility of single certificates for staggered consignments.

As regards evidence of preferential origin, Annex 2 to the Note to the Operators details the type of evidence expected by the Administration according to the nature of the exporter's activity. The evidence of origin of a good is not the same as the exporter is a manufacturer or a simple buyer/seller.

Finally, Annex 1 to the note reproduces the model of the EUR1 certificate form.