Under an initial agreement with the Department of Enterprise Trade & Employment, Chambers Ireland has been the competent authority to issue European Certificates of Origin since 1973 by Notice n° 1186 of the Revenue Commissioners, December declared in 1972.  This practice is currently regulated by Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2913/92 which establishes the Community Customs Code and Commission Regulation (EEC) No. 2454/93 which lays down the provisions for the implementation of the above Council Regulation.  Under Article 47 of the latter it is provided that a certificate of origin shall be made out by a reliable authority or agency duly authorised for that purpose by the country of issue. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has delegated this executive function to Chambers Ireland and through it to its constituent members.

The formal basis of the system is currently provided by the “European Communities (Issuance of Certificates of Origin by approved authorities) Regulations 1998” (amended in 2001).