What is a certificate of origin?

A certificate of origin is a document attesting that goods in a particular export shipment are wholly obtained or produced or manufactured or processed in a particular country (country of origin). Virtually every country in the world considers the origin of imported goods when determining what duty will be assessed on the goods or, in some cases, whether the goods may be legally imported at all.

In most countries, local chambers are the key agent in the delivery of certificates of origin.
The main forms of certificates of origin are:

1. European Certificate of Origin
2. Arab-Irish Certificate of Origin
3. EUR 1 Movement Certificates
4. ATR Movement Certificates (Trade with Turkey)
5. The China Compulsory Certification System (CCC)

Why are European certificates of origin needed?

Certificates of origin are intended solely to prove the origin of goods in order to satisfy customs or trade requirements. Certificates of origin must only be issued when they are actually needed for example in the following circumstances:

To meet foreign customs requirements in the importing state
Customer (consignee) requires it
To meet ‘quota’ requirements imposed by the importing country
To comply with banking requirements / letters of credit
For other official and commercial reasons.