Where Can I Obtain Certificates Of Origin?
You can obtain both EC and Arab Certificates of Origin at our Norwich office (see price list or call for a quote)
When applying to the Chamber for a Certificate of Origin, can you please advise what documents I need to include as back up?
A Commercial Invoice must always be submitted with a Certificate of Origin. A CofO is basically a Certificate of Manufacture. When you tell us the goods are of UK Origin, we simply need the full name and address to be shown on the back of the pink page (for European Certificates) or on the front page (for Arab Certificates). If the goods are of foreign origin, we still require the full names and addresses as above, but we also require commercial documentary proof such as a copy of the Certificate of Origin provided by the manufacturer, a Commercial Invoice or a Suppliers Declaration. Please do not take offence when we say that what you have provided is not sufficient - if you just state the name and address, we cannot simply take your word for it.
Can A Certificate Of Origin Be Completed On-Line?
Yes. EC Certificates can be applied for by following this link www.cofo.org.uk/norfolk. Simply buy your blank Certificates of Origin from us in advance, register, and follow the instructions
What Is The Difference Between EC And Arab Certificates Of Origin?
Arab Certificates of Origin cover the Arab League states (contact us for a quote) and EC Certificates of Origin are used throughout the world (see price list).
Who are the Arab League Nations?
Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Djibouti, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, & Yemen
What Are The Time Scales Involved?
EC certification can be issued straight away. However your signature must be held by us on a Formal Undertaking which must be renewed annually. Please contact us for timescale for Arab documentation as these do take longer to be process and legalised. Timing can also vary depending on which Arab state you are exporting to and that states requirements.
Do You Certify Invoices And Other Documents?
Yes. The documents must be signed by a signatory on the company “Formal Undertaking” that we have registered with us from your company. (see price list).
Do The Certificates Of Origin Have To Be Signed By The Company?
Yes. On the EC certificate sign the pink application only and on the Arab sign the blue and green application and control copies.
Do I Have To Show The Manufacturers Name/S And Address/Es On The Front Of The Arab Certificate Of Origin?
Yes.
Do I Have To Complete The Back Of The EC Pink Application?
Yes and be aware that you can only tick the top box when natural products are being exported i.e.: eggs, coal, and fish.
Do I Have To Include Weights On My Certificates Of Origin?
Yes it can be net or gross or both.
Can I Get Extra Copies Of The Certificates Certified And Or Legalised?
Yes, but you need to buy them from the Norwich office and have them issued at the same time as the originals.
Do All Embassies Have Different Fees For Legalisation?
Yes and different rules as well. If you want more information on a relevant country phone on 01603 729712.
What is a EUR1?
An EUR1 is a certificate more commonly known as a movement certificate, which enables importers in certain countries to import goods under ‘preference’ which means that your customer pays a lower or nil rate of import duty on your goods. You must make a declaration on the form that your goods satisfy the rules of origin as detailed in Customs Notice 832 (Mexico), 829 (Algeria, Syria and Ceuta and Melilla) and 828 (the remainder of the preference giving countries). These rules are reciprocal, i.e. they also apply to goods being imported into the EC under preference.
My customer has asked me to supply them with an EUR1 Certificate which will help them pay a lower rate of import duty – where can I get this from?
EUR1’s are customs documents so you would normally go to HMRC for these however, all of the accredited Chambers across the country are now authorised to supply and stamp these on behalf of HMRC. An A.TR works in the same way but is only used for shipments to Turkey. There are declarations that must be completed on the back of EUR’s and A.TR’s which you need to clearly understand so before you issue any of these documents, I would strongly suggest that you contact HMRC (Tel. 0845 010 9000) to obtain free copies of their Rule Books known as Notices. The Notices you should hold are 812, 827, 828, 829 and 832. These are also downloadable from the HMRC website under the Import and Export Section.
How do I complete a EUR1?
Please refer to Customs Notice 827, Section 10.
Can I apply for an EUR1 after shipment?
Yes. You can apply for a retrospective EUR1, please refer to Customs Notice 827, paragraph 3.11 for further details.
What is an ATR1?
An ATR document enables goods to qualify for tariff preferences on imports and exports between the EC and Turkey. Full details on the issuance of ATR’s can be found in Customs Notice 812.
I have a potentially, very large export client asking me to take samples of my products abroad for them to have a look. Is there any paperwork available that can assist with shipping the samples overseas?
As long as the goods are not sold whilst overseas and are only going to be used for demonstration purposes, you may be able to use a Carnet. An ATA Carnet is an international customs document that permits duty/tax free TEMPORARY import of goods for up to 1 year in over 60 countries. There are 3 categories for goods to be classified under: Commercial Samples, Professional Equipment and for Exhibition purposes. The main thing to remember is that a Carnet acts as a passport for the goods – whatever leaves the EC must ALWAYS come back. Norfolk Chamber is the nominated agent for the whole of the East of England for the issue of Carnets.
I have a member of staff who I would like to move over to our export department. They have no understanding of exports at all – are there any training courses in Norfolk that I could send them on?
Norfolk Chamber provides a number of export and import related training courses on a regular basis throughout the year. These courses range from the basic Customs and Export Procedures, Documentation, Letters of Credit, Tariffs and Intrastats through to Winning Export Sales. Check our website www.norfolkchamber.co.uk under Training for more information.
We are manufacturers of electrical items and our products have to conform to a number of different British Standards. The Standards change on a regular basis – is there a quick and easy way of buying the current Standards?
The Norfolk Chamber is an official agent of British Standards which means that we have a fast track delivery service available through BSI. You simply let the Chamber know which Standard you are looking for by checking the website www.bsi-global.com for the BS or EN Number you require and we will get it ordered for you.
My company sells what are classified as “Controlled Goods”. I know there are very strict rules on the import and export of these types of goods – is there any special paperwork I need to be aware of?
It is normal practice for a UK individual or company intending to import controlled goods from another COCOM (Co-ordinating Committee) member country to apply for an International Import Certificate (IIC). The intended purpose of the IIC is to reduce the risk of diversion of sensitive strategic goods and technology. Norfolk Chamber can provide blank Certificates for you to complete and return to us with a copy of your contract. We will check through both documents to ensure that all the relevant information is provided and then stamp and return it to you. You should also bookmark the following website http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/europeandtrade/strategic-export-control/index.html where you will find all the rules and updates for Controlled Goods.
I am running low on blank Standard Shipping Notes, and Dangerous Goods Notes – is there a local supplier of these forms?
Norfolk Chamber not only supplies the blank Certificates of Origin but they holds stocks of all blank forms such as these as well as EUR1’s, A.TR’s, CMR’s plus Country Specific Invoices like Nigerian C16’s, Caricoms etc. All forms are sold in Packs of 10.
We have agreed a price with a new client but they are insisting on payment being through a Letter of Credit. We have a little knowledge of L/C’s but are not confident enough to simply agree to this requirement. Can we get help from somewhere?
A training course on Letters of Credit is available here at the Norfolk Chamber which is provided by a JETS Accredited Trainer with many, many years’ experience. Anyone attending the course would feel very confident with Letters of Credit by the end of the day however, we also provide a Letter of Credit Service whereby you send us your Letter of Credit and our associates in Bristol basically do the rest. They check the L/C to make sure all the requests are viable, they liaise with your shipping company, raise all the paperwork and do all the negotiating with the bank. You wouldn’t have to worry about a thing. Information on the training and the service are available from the Norfolk Chamber.
We import goods on a regular basis but we tend to buy them in US Dollars. On what basis do we convert this for the UK Customs entry?
On the day of entry to Customs, your forwarder will convert the currency to sterling at the daily rate shown on the HMRC websites at both www.hmrc.gov.uk and www.uktradeinfo.com. This is a legal requirement.
We have completed a massive research project in South America and are now ready to start contacting prospective clients in Argentina and Venezuela. We have a number of products in our range and have produced a brochure which we would like to translate into Spanish as a marketing tool during our sales trip. Can you recommend any translators?
The Chamber offers an excellent translation and interpreting service which is very fast and extremely efficient. We have a database full of translators all of whom are fully qualified to translate by way of being members of the Institute of Linguists. You can have anything from a short fax/email to a hard backed book translated – no job is too small. Just send us the document and we will pass it on to our contacts who will let us know how long it would take them to complete.
I would like to be able to check Import Duty Rates applicable to my customers overseas but I can’t access the EU Market Access Database which I normally go to. Is there anywhere else I could try?
The World Customs Organisation (WCO) website may be able to help. The address is www.wcoomd.org. On the home page, select “About us” from the left hand side and then “National Customs Website”. Select your country and it will take you into the tariff pages. Please note that some of the links do not always work and many of the pages are in the countries national languages but it’s still worth a try.
We have heard from a number of sources that China is an excellent country to try and export to. Finding good quality contacts in a new territory is hard enough for anyone – are there any companies that can do all the research and groundwork for us?
There are a number of schemes available through UK Trade and Investment (UKT&I) which is the Government organisation responsible for marketing the UK overseas, promoting British exports and attracting inward investment. UKT&I provides business opportunities, expert trade advice and support to UK-based companies wishing to grow their business all over the world – not just China. International Trade Advisors are available nationally but in Norfolk, the UKT&I delivery partner is East of England International who are based in Norwich on Tel. 08456 419938. Give them a call and they will send one of the team over to talk to you about the help and services available to you.
Previously we have produced a Proforma Invoice and a Customs Invoice – are these the same? Do we need both? From a shipping point of view, they appear to be the same apart from their titles?
Don’t worry too much about the names of these documents officially, though a Proforma Invoice is a document raised in advance of delivery of goods either for payment in advance or licensing requirements overseas. The Invoice that moves the goods is technically a Shipping Invoice. A Commercial Invoice can be sent with goods but the “commercial” word means the customer has money to pay and it is the invoice on which a payment is made.