What is a Certificate of Origin?
A Certificate of Origin is a document issued by the competent government authority of the exporting country, which is the country where the goods were manufactured, produced, or processed. Issued under the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, it authenticates the country of origin for export to any foreign country to ensure that the Exporter complies with all laws and regulations relating to international trade. The certificate will be obtained for the greater part of product categories, mainly perishable commodities such as fruits, vegetables, and flowers, whose customs clearances are considerably expedited on the strength of this certification.
Why is a Certificate of Origin important?
A Certificate of Origin has several uses in international trade, including but not limited to:
1. Proof of Origin: It ascertains the country of origin where the products have been manufactured.
2. Compliance with Trade Agreements: It helps in ascertaining if goods qualify for duty preference pursuant to numerous free trade agreements
3. Customs Clearance: It identifies whether imports are merchandise that can be freely imported.
4. Correct Duty Impost: It enables the applying customs to charge the proper customs duty on an import based upon its country of origin.
5. Supports Trade Transparency: Ensures authenticity and traceability, reducing the appearance of counterfeits and instilling trust in international supply chains.
There are two types of CoO that exporters can apply for:
- Preferential Certificate of Origin: This carries tariff concessions on goods traded under specified international trade agreements and, hence, makes exporters eligible for tariff cuts or tariff exemptions.
- Non-Preferential Certificate of Origin: It documents the origin of the goods but doesn't give any tariff benefits.
- Benefits of Obtaining a Certificate of Origin
- Tariff Reduction: In some of the trade agreements, import duties are low, or completely reduced.
- Compliance: It helps ensure that there is compliance with the regulatory mandates of the foreign countries, thus enabling smooth customs clearance.
- Access to Trade Benefits: Enables availing of additional benefits, such as government incentives and subsidies
- Supply chain traceability: ensures the authenticity of the products, and hence helps safeguard against piracy and supply chain disruptions
How to Obtain a Certificate of Origin
For easy processing, the DGFT introduced an online portal for COO applications. The exporter may apply with the following documents:
- Shipping Bills
- Bill of Lading or Airway Bill
- Invoice Copy
- Packing List
- Digital Signature Certificate
Obtain Your Certificate of Origin (CoO) with YKG Global
At YKG Global, we assist entrepreneurs in securing their Certificate of Origin (CoO) smoothly and hassle-free.
Here’s how we support you:
Expert Document Preparation Assistance:
Our experienced team helps you prepare all the necessary documents for your CoO application. We ensure that your paperwork is complete, well-organized, and compliant with the required standards, so your application process is smooth and stress-free.
Seamless Online Application Support:
Navigating the online CoO application process can be challenging. Our team guides you through each step, ensuring that all required fields are accurately filled out and submitted, minimizing any delays or errors.
Efficient CoO Issuance:
We specialize in acquiring Certificates of Origin through the common digital platform on behalf of our clients. With our dedicated team's expertise, we ensure a quick and smooth issuance process, so your export shipments stay on schedule.
