Certificate of Origin

What makes Certificate of Origin (COO) such an important export document? For international trading, when you need to export goods from Australia (irrespective of whether they are produced/manufactured/processed in Australia or any other country), you need COO to:

  • Create an authenticated trade channel with overseas buyers
  • Steer clear through the customs clearance process
  • Carry our negotiations in sales agreements
  • And most importantly, to obtain trade tariff concessions under the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

If you are about to apply for the first Australian Certificate of Origin, here is a small guide to follow the right steps.

Know the Authorized Certificate of Origin Issuers

Various chambers of commerce and other providers that are authorized to issue the COO include:

 

  • Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • New South Wales Business Chamber
  • South Australia Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland
  • ACT & Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry
  • Chamber Northern Territory
  • Chamber of Commerce and Industry Western Australia
  • Australian Industry Group
  • Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • Australian Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Register with Chamber of Commerce

To begin, you must consider registering with one of the above-mentioned Chambers. It is worth mentioning that registered members get to enjoy significant concessions in the CO processing fees.

Complete the Exporter Information Form

Every Chamber of Commerce requires the exporter to complete the Exporter Registration Form (usually called the CO4 Form). The form provides important details about the exporter, his/her business, and company. The form must be filled only once and you can use the details to get CO processed any number of times in the future.

Another important decision is to choose between manual and electronic Certificate of Origin. It is obvious that the latter eliminates a lot of paperwork and saves the precious amount of time. Moreover, you would obtain the certificate directly in your email inbox, making it easier to take printouts. The best advantage of going electronic is cost-saving.

You must also know that the form must include the list of authorized signatories who can act on behalf of your business or company. Make sure you choose the right persons for this task.

Provide the Required Evidences

Chamber of Commerce requires the exporters to provide evidences for the export transaction. These evidences include the invoice copies, letter of credit, bill of lading and so on. Make sure that you provide these evidences in the right formats for quick processing.

Declaration of Origin

No need to mention Certificate of Origin is different from the certified Declaration of Origin. While the former is applicable to the products manufactured/produces/processed in Australia, the latter verifies the products produced/manufactured/processed in some other country and re-exported from Australia to other countries. However, the procedure to obtain the right document is the same.

Things have become easier and the entire process has turned shorter with more exporters opting for electronic export documentation. It’s the right time to invest in the right export documentation software to leverage the associated benefits.

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