Export Documentation FAQs
Certificate of Origin
- For customs clearance at the port of destination
- To export certain products from Australia
- As a requirement of the Letter of Credit
- Importer to benefit from reduced tariffs which is the case in regard to Certificates of Origin associated with the free trade agreements.
The Certificates of Origin are used for customs clearance at the port or airport at the destination country.
Many customs measures relating to goods being imported into a country, in particular those relating to tariff & public health; depend for their administration on the origin of the goods. The increasing number & the complexities of the Free Trade Agreements has emphasised the importance of correctly identifying the origin of imports. Such evidence is the Certificate of Origin.
Certificates of Origin can also be requested by the overseas buyer to verify the origin of the goods.
Also, the Certificate of Origin can be a requirement of the Letter of Credit issued by the bank of the importer. Without the Certificate of Origin, the exporter won’t receive the payment for the goods exported.
In the case with the Certificates of Origin associated with the free trade agreements, the certificates are required by the importer to be able to benefit from the reduced tariff rates for the product/s (when applicable) under the free trade agreement. For example, for exports to China of originating goods from Australia the exporter is required to organise a ChAFTA Certificate of Origin in order to qualify for the preferential rates.
Twelve months from the date of issue from the Chamber.
The applicable Certificate of Origin under Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA), is the only exception – where the validity is 24 months from the date of issue from the Chamber.
Yes, your freight company can apply for a Certificate of Origin for you. As long as the names and signatures of the authorised signatories are included in the Exporter Registration Form C04 as their authorised representatives, the freight company can sign Certificates of Origin on behalf of the exporter.
Preferential Certificates of Origin are the Certificates of Origin issued for exports from Australia to countries with which Australia has Free Trade Agreements. It can be used by importers to claim preferential tariff concessions.
The Australian Government has introduced a scheme to formally accredited “bodies” to issue preferential Certificates of Origin to Australian exporters – The FTA Certificates of Origin Recognition Scheme. The Scheme covers only those FTA’s that require a Certificate of Origin to be issued by an “authorised body” or the equivalent. The Government has designated the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) to be responsible for the administration of this Scheme. The Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ACCI) is a JAS-ANZ accredited body. CBC is authorised representative of ACCI to issue Preferential Certificates of Origin.
Your freight forwarder can check the general duties payable and the preferential duties payable for your product which is being exported to the country party of the relevant Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Australia. If the product is not covered by the FTA, you may consider applying for non-preferential Certificate of Origin.
For countries which are part of two Free Trade Agreements, it is advisable to check the duty rates under both. For example, Thailand is part of TAFTA & AANZFTA; Malaysia is part of MAFTA & AANZFTA.
For JAEPA, ChAFTA & KAFTA you may also find useful DFAT’s FTA portal: https://ftaportal.dfat.gov.au/
Contact the Canberra Business Chamber ASAP. We have a formal process in place through ACCI & DFAT. The matter will be addressed at a customs port level.
Free Trade Agreements (FTA's)
Free trade agreements (FTA’s) are international treaties that reduce barriers to trade and investment. Australia’s FTA’s – both with individual countries and groups of countries – provide:
- Better Australian access to important markets
- An improved competitive position for Australian exports
- More prospects for increased two-way investment
- Reduced import costs for Australian businesses and consumers alike.
For further information, please refer here.
- ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA
- Australia-Chile FTA
- Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations
- Australia-United States FTA
- Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement
- Korea-Australia FTA
- Malaysia-Australia FTA
- Singapore-Australia FTA
- Thailand-Australia FTA
- China-Australia FTA
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) is authorised body by the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) to issue the Certificates of Origin. Canberra Business Chamber is authorised representative of ACCI to issue Certificates of Origin.
- The Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA).
- AANZFTA countries signatories: Australia, New, Zealand, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Certificates of Origin are required under AANZFTA. A special AANZFTA Certificate of Origin template is required to be completed & signed by the exporter to be processed by the Chamber.
Contact us for the template.
For further information, please refer here.
The Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) is one of two FTA’s that Australian businesses can use to trade with Thailand. As a member of ASEAN, Thailand is also part of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA).
- TAFTA entered into force on 1 January 2005
Documentary evidence that the goods are originating in Australia, Thailand or combination of both is required in accordance with the provisions of TAFTA.
A special TAFTA Certificate of Origin template is required to be completed & signed by the exporter to be processed by the Chamber – it can be completed & submitted by the freight company on the exporters behalf.
A Deed of Declaration must be completed by the exporter to register for TAFTA with the Chamber prior to applying for TAFTA Certificate of Origin.
Contact us for the template.
For further information, please refer here.
- The Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA) is the Free Trade Agreement between Korea and Australia.
- KAFTA entered into force on 12 December 2014.
Documentary evidence that the goods are originating in Australia, Korea or the combination of both is required in accordance with the provisions of KAFTA.
A special ACCI KAFTA Certificate of Origin template is available to be completed & signed by the exporter to be processed by the Chamber – it can be completed & submitted by the freight company on the exporters behalf.
Contact us for the template.
For further information, please refer here.
- The Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA) is the Agreement between Japan & Australia.
- JAEPA entered into force on 15 January 2015.
Documentary evidence that the goods are originating in Australia, JAPAN or combination of both is required in accordance with the provisions of the JAEPA Refer to Chapter 3- Rules of Origin.
A special ACCI JAEPA Certificate of Origin template is required to be completed & signed by the exporter/producer to be processed by the Chamber – it can be completed & submitted by the freight company on the exporters’ behalf.
Contact us for the template.
For further information, please refer here.
- The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) is the Free Trade Agreement between China and Australia.
- ChAFTA entered into force on 20th December 2015.
- Goods seeking preferential treatment under ChAFTA must be accompanied by the appropriate documentation – ChAFTA Certificate of Origin or Declaration of Origin (for goods covered by an advanced ruling on origin).
A special ACCI ChAFTA COO template is required to be completed & signed by the exporter to be processed by the Chamber – it can be completed & submitted by the freight company on the exporters’ behalf.
Contact us for the template.
For further information, please refer here
Certified Declaration of Origin
A Certified Declaration of Origin is a document that verifies that the goods exported from Australia were manufactured outside of Australia, for example, machinery imported to Australia from USA and re-exported to New Zealand.
The CBC is authorised to issue Certified Declarations of Origin.
Certified Declaration of Origin is applicable when the country of origin verification is requested by the destination country.
If the goods originated in Australia, a Certificate of Origin will be correct document to use.
For mixed origin shipments, all goods can be listed on the Certified Declaration of Origin.
Follow the same procedure as applying for a Certificate of Origin. Contact us on 02 6247 4199 or trade@canberrabusiness.com.