Australian Scheme For Certificates Of Origin Under FTAs

by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong

26 July 2010

An accreditation framework has been established to authorise bodies to issue certificates of origin under those Australian free trade agreements (FTAs) which require such an arrangement.

Certificates of origin issued by authorised bodies are required under Australia's existing FTAs with Singapore and Thailand, as well as under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Australia-New Zealand FTA (AANZFTA) which entered into force on January 1, 2010.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has developed the scheme in consultation with other government departments, a wide cross-section of Australian industry and export interests, and the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ), which will administer the scheme.

These arrangements will ensure that Australia's trade partners can maintain a high level of confidence in its procedures for issuing certificates of origin under FTAs that require independent certification of the origin of goods for which preferential tariff treatment is being sought. This is crucial, it is said, in ensuring that Australian business can take full advantage of FTA opportunities.

All bodies interested in being an authorised body for the purpose of issuing certificates of origin under the AANZFTA, or any other future FTA that requires such certificates, are now able to apply to JAS-ANZ for accreditation. Bodies that have been accredited by JAS-ANZ will be able to issue certificates of origin for particular FTAs once the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has completed any necessary approval or notification requirements.

The scheme does not apply to the issuing of non-preferential certificates of origin, which are widely used in trade to facilitate customs clearance or to meet commercial requirements.

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