On February 4, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) World Chambers Federation (WCF) launched a new survey to obtain a global picture of how chambers of commerce are issuing millions of certificates of origin used by exporters every year.

A certificate of origin is a document which identifies the origin of goods being exported. It is required by customs authorities as one of the key bases for applying tariff rates. The issuing of certificates of origin and the associated certification of other export documents was first regularised in 1923. This came about under the provisions of the international convention relating to the simplification of customs formalities, held in Geneva.

Most chambers of commerce and some trade associations have been authorised by their customs agencies to certify nonpreferential, and in some cases preferential, certificates of origin. Thus, a chamber’s role in the issuance and attestation of certificates of origin is both unique and vital in facilitating international trade. ‘International Certificate of Origin Guidelines’ is the result of 18 months’ work by the ICC WCF, incorporating best practice from several national chamber organisations to produce the first international procedures and guidelines manual for chambers in the issuance of nonpreferential certificates of origin.

The 2013 international certificates of origin survey and the global map of certificate of origin activities it will provide are part of WCF’s drive to harmonise the hugely varied certificate of origin issuing procedures of chambers of commerce worldwide.

Until the launch of the international certificate of origin survey in 2003, there had been no global tracking undertaken to understand the volume, scope and critical issues for organisations undertaking certificate of issuance.

The survey is important for mapping and monitoring trends and issues and helping the ICC WCF in its advocacy work and assistance to chambers.
According to the ICC WCF, last year, the organisation launched its International Certificates of Origin Accreditation Chain, with an easily recognisable international quality label, to reassure businesses, traders, banks and customs administrations that participating chambers have issued certificates of origin in accordance with internationally accepted best practice.

International Certificate of Origin Accreditation Chain
On January 25, the World Customs Organisation (WCO) welcomed the International Certificate of Origin Accreditation Chain launched on September 28 by the WCF.

In implementing of the certificate of origin chain, the ICC WCF will establish a certificate of origin verification website listing all certificates of origin issued by the accredited chamber members. Available to customs authorities, it will ensure faster online authenticity confirmation, providing greater security against false documentation.

The WCO indicated that an article on the certificate of origin chain is due for publication in the February edition of the WCO News Magazine, distributed to customs administrations, international organisations, nongovernmental organi- sations, the business community and other interested readers.

Worn Clothing
In the Government Gazette of February 8, the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) published guidelines pertaining to applications for permits in terms of provisions under rebate item 311.18/63.09/01.04 of Schedule No 3 of the Customs and Excise Act.

The notice serves to notify interested parties that all applications submitted for permits in terms of the rebate item for the rebate of the full rate of customs duty on worn clothing and other articles of textile material used for the manufacture of industrial wiping rags and cleaning cloths will be dealt with according to the revised guidelines posted on the Itac website.

The revised guidelines is effective from February 8.

Economic/Industrial Policy Course
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has announced the start on March 11 of its 2013 Capacity Building Programme on Economic Development and Industrial Policy, which it developed in partnership with the University of Witwatersrand’s School of Economics and Business Sciences. It comprises a certificate in economic development and policy and its main objective is to build capacity for staff of government (at national, provincial, district and local levels), as well as nongovernmental organisations and organised labour responsible for the analysis, development, implementation and monitoring of economic and development policy.

The certificate consists of six modules, namely governance and policy, managing information and communications, economics and public finance, political economy and economic development, trade and industrial policy, and the South African economy and industrial structure.

For more information, contact edith.leine@wits.ac.za or ntomboxolo.currie@wits.ac.za

EMIA Notice
The DTI has appointed three preferred service providers for the Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) Group Scheme for the provision of specialised travel management for customers, including air travel, hotel accommodation and ground transport. The appointed service providers are Magic Travel, Travel with Flair and Wings Naledi Travel.

The appointment of the preferred service providers is effective from October 1, 2012, to ensure better value for EMIA customers, competitive pricing and a broader choice of service providers.