PUBLIC NOTICE NO.51/2016, DT. 30/12/2016

In exercise of powers conferred under paragraph 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-2020, the Director General of Foreign Trade hereby inserts a new sub para (c) under Para 2.104 Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) as under:

(c) The European Union (EU) has introduced a self-certification scheme for certifying the rules of origin under GSP from 1.1.2017 onwards. Under the Registered Exporter System (REX) being introduced from 1.1.2017, exporters with a REX number will be able to self-certify the Statement on Origin of their goods being exported to EU under the GSP Scheme. The registration on REX is without any fee or charges and this system would eventually phase out the current system of issuance of Certificates of Origin (Form-A) by the Competent Authorities listed in Appendix-2C of FTP (2015-20) by 1.1.2018 (one year transition period). The details of the scheme are at Annex 1 to Appendix 2C of the Foreign Trade Policy (2015- 20).

3. Effect of this Public Notice: Registered Exporters System (REX) as of 1 January 2017 for the EU Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) is notified.
 

(A.K.Bhalla)

Director General of Foreign Trade
Email: dgft@nic.in

ANNEXURE 1 to APPENDIX 2C

Introduction:

1.1 The EU has been continuously undertaking reforms of its GSP rules of origin. One such reform finalised in 2011 relates to the self-certification of the rules of origin criteria by exporters themselves. The purpose of this reform is to facilitate trade and reduce administrative burden and costs for exporters.

1.2 Under the new scheme of self-certification, being introduced from 1.1.2017, the current system of issuance of certificates of origin (Form-A) by competent authorities as listed in Appendix 2C of Foreign Trade Policy (2015-20) will be replaced with “statements on origin” to be issued by exporters themselves. This “statement on origin” is to be made out on, on any commercial document (such as commercial invoice etc.) of the exported consignment. However, during the transition period of twelve months from 1.1.2017 until 31.12.2017, the competent authorities [as listed in Appendix 2C of the FTP (2015-20)] would continue to issue certificates of origin (Form A) at the request of exporters who are not registered in the REX system. At the end of this period, i.e. from 1.1.2018 onwards, the consignments above the value of € 6000 will be entitled to GSP preferential tariff treatment, only if accompanied by a statement on origin made out by a registered exporter. Exporters consigning low value goods (i.e. less than €6000 per consignment) are however entitled to make out statements on origin without being registered in REX, instead of submitting “Form- A” from 1.1.2017 itself.

1.3 As exporters are in the best position to assess the origin of their products, the European Union considers it appropriate that the exporters directly provide their customers in the EU with ‘statements on origin’ that no longer need to be endorsed by their national authorities. For this purpose, exporters will need to be registered by the competent authorities in an electronic system, named the REX system, or the. ‘Registered Exporter System’.

1.4 The competent authorities would have access to the REX system for registration of exporters as well as access to relevant information. The registration of exporters in the system will not require any fees. An exporter will be registered in the system only once and the REX system will be common to the GSP schemes of the European Union, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey (based on Turkey fulfilling certain conditions).

1.5 The REX is a composite system relating to both registration of exporters and all other aspects related to the self-certification of the rules of origin under the EU GSP. The rules of the REX system are laid down in European Commission’s Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2015/2447 [the Union Customs Code (UCC) "Implementing Act"(IA)]. The details on the REX system are available at the following URL:

https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/business/calculation-customs-duties/rules-origin/general-aspectspreferential-origin/arrangements-list/generalised-systempreferences/the_register_exporter_system_en

1.6 Questions and Answers on the reform of GSP rules of origin can also be assed at
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-10-588_en.htm?locale=en

1.7 While the REX system will come into operation on 1.1.2017 and exporters will be able to submit their applications for registration under REX w.e.f 1.1.2017, the registration on the REX System will only be done when EU operationalizes the system and gives access to the system to competent authorities in India. Exporters may submit their applications to the competent authorities as listed in Annexure 1(b) who will receive such applications, verify the details therein and if accepted, these applications will be registered on the REX once their access to REX is permitted. Upon registration with REX, they will intimate the REX registration number and it’s validity date to the exporters through email and a communication at the address indicated in the application form.

2. Tasks and responsibilities of the competent authorities under the REX system:

2.1 Under the EU GSP self-certification system, all the beneficiary countries would have two types of competent authorities namely.

i. Competent authority for administrative cooperation (ADC) which interfaces with the EU on issues related to the EU GSP and takes overall policy decisions on the EU GSP

ii. Competent authority for registration (REG) which is responsible for registration of exporters through local users as also assistance related to verification.

2.2 Each of these competent authorities must have at least one local administrator namely

i. Local administrator(s) for administrative cooperation (ADC)

ii. Local administrator(s) for registration (REG)

The role of the local administrators is to create local users in their competent authority. Hence, the Local Users for registration (REG) would be created by the Local Administrators for registration (REG). The exporters would need to approach these local users for registration (REG) to undertake a one time registration for exports under the EU GSP self- certification.

2.3 The Department of Commerce is the Local Administrator of India for Administrative Cooperation (ADC) under the EU GSP self-certification scheme. Besides, the Department of Commerce, India would have sixteen Local Administrators for Registration (REG). The Local Administrators for Registration along with the name of their nodal officers, designation, email id and telephone numbers is listed at Annexure.-"1A”. All these Local Administrators would access the REX system through their ECAS IDs. The Local Administrators for Registration on the request of the Local Administrator for Administrative Cooperation (i.e the Department of Commerce) will also provide all support requested by the Commission for the monitoring of the proper management of the scheme in the country, including verification visits on the spot by the Commission or the customs authorities of EU Member States.

2.4 The Local Administrators for Registration would nominate and create the Local Users for Registration (REG) in the REX system through their ECAS IDs. This would have to be done by logging into the T-REX (sub-component of the REX system).and registering the local users. Local Administrators for REG would also train the Local Users in registering exporters under the REX system. Local Administrators for REG will maintain updated record of its Local Users for Registration (name, address, email id and phone no.) and intimate any change in details of Local Users for Registration to EU / Switzerland / Norway administrators and to Department of Commerce at the following email IDs

d1rmtr-doc@nic.in
usrmtr-doc@nic.in
moc_rmtr@nic.in

The Local users for Registration (REG) nominated by the Local Administrators for Registration are at Annexure.-"1B”.

Updates on the REX system can be viewed at dgft.gov.in.

2.5 The Local Users for Registration shall undertake the following tasks:

i. Disseminate information on the REX system to exporters and other stakeholders;

ii. Receive signed applications for registration in REX from exporters in the requisite format (Annexure-"1C"). The REX system provides for a Pre-Application component (AREX Form) which allows exporters to fill their details in a REX Pre-Application form and print it. The same can be signed and submitted manually to the Local User. When being processed, the Local User will retrieve the related information using the exporter’s IEC number/Importer Exporter profile.

iii. Register Exporters on REX, using either details from Pre-Application (AREX Form) or using details from the paper based application signed and submitted by the exporter;

iv. Check whether the applications submitted contains all the information required;

v. Check that the applicants are established and functional manufacturers or traders, and their Importer Exporter Code (IEC) is not under DEL(Denied Entity List);

vi. Enter information about the exporters into the REX system and assign registered exporter (REX) number, in the 20 digit format namely INREX [10 digit IEC number]- [2 digit alphabetical code for Local Administrator]-[3 digit numeric code for Local User for Registration beginning from 001 until 999]. The two digit alphabetical code for Local Administrator for Registration is given in Appendix IA while the term "INREX" stands for India REX,);

vii. Inform exporters of their REX number; date of registration in REX any other relevant details through both email and a hard copy. The date from which the registration is valid should be the date on which the complete application was received by the Local User;

viii. Store the application form in safe custody;

ix. Keep the electronic record of registered exporters up-to-date;

x. Recommend to the Local Administrator for Registration, the revocation of the exporter’s registration if the exporter:

a. no longer exists, no longer intends to export goods under the GSP or no longer meets the conditions for exporting goods under the GSP;

b. intentionally or negligently draws up, or causes to be drawn up, a statement on origin which contains incorrect information and leads his customer to wrongfully obtaining preferential tariff treatment in the EU;

c. fails to keep information relating to his registration up-do-date, where this shortcoming is considered to be serious;

xi. inform registered exporters whose registration has been revoked on the action taken for revocation of the date from which the revocation will take effect

xii. carry out regular checks, verification and audits on registered exporters, based on the requests of EU Member States Or after obtaining the consent of both the Local Administrator for Registration (REG) and the Local Administrator for Administrative Cooperation (ADC). The fees charged for checks, verification and audits will commensurate with the cost of services rendered. The Local User for Registration (REG) will provide details of the fees to be charged by it (including a rough estimate of the total cost to the exporter) to both the Local Administrator for Registration (REG) and the Local Administrator for Administrative Cooperation (ADC).

xiii. Re-registration of the exporter based on the due process of checks and based on recommendation of the Local Administrator for Registration (REG).

xiv. Send on a monthly basis, the summary of the “statements on origin” to the Local Administrator for Registration and the Local Administrator for Administrative Cooperation (ADC).

2.6 In accordance with Article 93 of the reformed EU GSP rules of origin under Regulation 2015/2447 the competent authorities must revoke a registration if the registered exporter no longer exists, no longer intends to export goods under the GSP or no longer meets the conditions for exporting goods under the GSP.

2.7 Without prejudice to the system of penalties and sanctions applicable in the beneficiary country, if a registered exporter intentionally or negligently draws up, or causes to be drawn up, a “statement on origin” which contains incorrect information and leads his customer to wrongfully obtaining preferential tariff treatment in the EU, the Local User must recommend revocation of the exporter’s registration to the Local Administrator for Registration. The Local User for Registration may also recommend revocation to the Local Administrator for Registration if the registered exporter fails to keep information relating to his registration up-to-date and this shortcoming is considered to be serious.

2.8 Without prejudice to the possible impact of irregularities found on pending verifications, revocation of the registration can only take effect for statements made out after the date of revocation. Exporters whose registration has been revoked may only be registered again if they prove that they have remedied the situation.

2.9 An appeal against the revocation and annulment of the Registration of an exporter shall lie with the Local Administrator for Administrative Cooperation (ADC).

3. Tasks and Responsibilities of the Registered Exporters under the REX System

3.1 To be registered, an exporter must file an application with one of the Local Users for Registration (REG). The selection of the Local User for Registration (REG) is to be made taking into account the products being exported, nature of the unit (SEZ or DTA) etc. . The application must be made using the form set out in Annexure -"1C” and must contain all the information. Exporters will also have the possibility to pre-encode their application in the Pre-Application component (AREX Form) of the REX system and print it. Paper copy of the application with hand-written signature has to be submitted to the Local User. The application will only be accepted by the competent authorities if it is complete. Registration is valid from the moment a complete application is submitted by the exporter. There is no impact on the exporter if there is a technical problem for the registration or if the competent authorities have organizational difficulties to register the exporter immediately.

3.2 An exporter will be registered in the system only once, as the REX system is common to the GSP schemes in the EU, Norway and Switzerland. It will also apply to Turkey’s GSP scheme, once that country meets certain conditions. However, these GSP schemes may differ in terms of country and product coverage. As a result, a particular registration will only be effective for exports under a GSP scheme that considers India as a beneficiary country.

3.3 By completing the form, exporters consent to this information being stored in the Commission’s database and being published on a publicly accessible website. In column 6 of the application form the Exporter must indicate as to whether the information furnished by him can be published on the public website. If the exporter gives his consent, the IEC number, name, address, contact details and the registered exporter and the indicative description of his goods which qualify for preferential treatment are made public on the Internet. If the exporter doesn't give his consent, only the REX number, its validity date, address where the registered exporter is established and date of the revocation of the registration where applicable, is shared on the internet; besides also indicating as to whether the registration applies also to exports to Norway or Switzerland.

3.4 Exporters, whether registered or not, (i.e even those whose consignment values are less than €6000 ) must comply with the following obligations:

i. they must maintain appropriate commercial accounting records for the production and supply of goods qualifying for preferential treatment;

ii. they must keep available all evidence relating to the material used in manufacturing these goods;

iii. they must keep all customs documentation relating to the material used in manufacturing these goods;

iv. for at least three years from end of the calendar year in which the statement on origin was made out, or more if required by national law, they must keep records of:

v. the statements on origin they made out, and

vi. details of their originating and non-originating materials, its production and stock accounts.

3.5 These records and statements on origin may be kept in an electronic format but must allow the materials used in manufacturing the exported products to be traced and their originating status to be confirmed. These obligations also apply to suppliers who provide exporters with supplier’s declarations certifying the originating status of the goods they supply.

3.6 Registered exporters must immediately inform the competent authorities (i.e. Local User for Registration where exporter applied for REX No.) of changes to the information they provided during registration. Registered exporters who no longer meet conditions for exporting goods under the scheme or no longer intend to export goods under the scheme must inform the competent authorities of this.

3.7 The Registered exporters would provide a summary of the “statement on origin” to the Local Users for Registration. This summary would contain the following details:

i. HS Code,
ii. Description,
iii. Document No/ date on which Statement on Origin is made out,
iv. FOB value of exports (in $),
v. destination port,
vi. destination of export
vii. Origin Criteria, W/P HS four digit

4. Documents to be used by the exporters registered in REX

4.1 The “statement on origin” is made out by the registered exporter in the country of export to the EU as soon as the exportation has taken place or is ensured, if the goods can be considered as originating in the beneficiary country concerned. However, the registered exporter must indicate another beneficiary country on the “statement on origin” if:
 

4.2 The exporters must provide the statement on origin to their customer(s) in the EU. It must contain the details specified in Annexure “1D" of this document. A “statement on origin” may be made out in English or any other language approved in the EU regulations on any commercial document allowing the exporter, consignee and the goods involved to be identified.

4.3 When bilateral or regional cumulation applies, the exporter of a product manufactured using materials originating in a party with which cumulation is permitted, can rely on the “statement on origin” provided by its supplier. In these cases, the “statement on origin” made out by the exporter must contain the indication: ‘EU cumulation’ or ‘regional cumulation’;

4.4 When cumulation under Article 85 of the reformed EU GSP rules of origin applies, the exporter of a product manufactured using materials originating in a party with which cumulation is permitted, can rely on the proof of origin provided by its supplier and issued in accordance with the provisions of GSP rules of origin in Norway or Switzerland (and, in future, Turkey). In these cases, the statement on origin made out by the exporter must contain one of the indications:

‘Norway cumulation’, or ‘Switzerland cumulation’ or ‘Turkey cumulation’.

4.5 When extended cumulation under Article 86(7) and (8) of the reformed EU GSP rules of origin applies, the exporter of a product manufactured using materials originating in a party with which extended cumulation is permitted, can rely on the proof of origin provided by its supplier and issued in accordance with the provisions of the relevant free-trade agreement between the EU and the relevant party. In these cases, the statement on origin made out by the exporter must contain the indication-‘extended cumulation with country 'X’.

4.6 A “statement on origin” must be made out for each consignment. In exceptional circumstances, a statement on origin may be made out after the goods have been exported (‘retrospective statement’) as it is presented in the Member State of declaration, for release for free circulation, no more than two years after the goods were imported. A statement on origin is valid for 12 months from the date on which it is made out.

4.7 A single “statement on origin” may cover several consignments if the goods meet the following conditions:

i. They are dismantled or non-assembled products within the meaning of general rule 2(a) of the Harmonised System.

ii. are falling within Section XVI or XVII or heading 7308 or 9406 of the Harmonised System, and

iii. are intended to be imported in installments.

4.8 The reformed EU GSP Rules of Origin may be accessed at the following links:

i. http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/itcdtsbmisc25rev3add1_en.pdf

ii. https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/business/calculation-customs-duties/rules-origin/generalaspects-preferential-origin/arrangements-list/generalised-system-preferences_en

iii. http://exporthelp.europa.eu/thdapp/display.htm?page=cd/cd_RulesOfOriginOCTs.html&docType=main & language Id=ENAnnexes:

iv http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/customs/customs_duties/rules_origin/index_en.htm

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Annexure 1A

Annexure 1B

Annex.-"1C":

⁽¹⁾ The present application form is common to the GSP schemes of four entities, the Union (EU), Norway, Switzerland and Turkey (the entities). Please note, however, that the respective GSP schemes of these entities may differ in terms of country and product coverage. Consequently a given registration will only be effective for the purpose of exports under the GSP scheme(s) that consider(s) your country as a beneficiary country.

⁽²⁾ The indication of EORI number is mandatory for EU exporters and re-consignors. For exporters in beneficiary countries, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey, the indication of TIN is mandatory.
 

Annexure-"1D"

To be made out on any commercial documents showing the name and full address of the exporter and consignee as well as a description of the products and the date of issue (¹)

The exporter … (Number of Registered Exporter (_²)(_³)(⁴) of the products covered by this document declares that, except where otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of…. Preferential origin (⁵) according to rules of origin of the Generalised System of Preferences of the European Union and that the origin of the Generalised System of Preferences of the European Union and that the origin criterion met is … …(⁶). -------------------------------

⁽¹⁾ Where the statement on origin replaces another statement in accordance with Article 97d(2) and (3), the replacement statement on origin shall bear the mention “Replacement statement”. The replacement shall also indicate the date of issue of the initial statement and all other necessary data according to Article 97d(6).

⁽²⁾ Where the statement on origin replaces another statement in accordance with subparagraph 1 of Article 97d(2) and paragraph (3) of Article 97d, the re-consignor of the goods making out such a statement shall indicate his name and full address followed by his number of registered exporter.

⁽³⁾ Where the statement on origin replaces another statement in accordance with subparagraph 2 of Article 97d(2), the re-consignor of the goods making out such a statement shall indicate his name and full address followed by the mention (English version)” acting on the basis of the statement on origin made out by [name and complete address of the exporter in the beneficiary country] registered under the following number [Number of Registered Exporter of the exporter in the beneficiary country]”

⁽⁴⁾ Where the statement on origin replaces another statement in accordance with Article 97d(2), the re-consignor of the goods shall indicate the number of registered exporter only if the value of originating products in the initial consignment exceeds EUR 6 000.

⁽⁵⁾ Country of origin of products to be indicated. When the statement on origin relates, in whole or in part, to products originating in Ceuta and Melilla within the meaning of Article 97j, the exporter must clearly indicate them in the document on which the statement is made out by means of the symbol “XC/XL”.

⁽⁶⁾ Products wholly obtained: enter the letter “P”, Products sufficiently worked or processed: enter the letter ‘W’ followed by a heading of the Harmonised System (example “W”9618).

Where appropriate the above mention shall be replaced with one of the following indications:

(a) In the case of bilateral cumulation: “EU cumulation”.

(b) In the case of cumulation with Norway, Switzerland or Turkey: “Norway cumulation”,

“Switzerland cumulation” or “Turkey cumulation”.

(c) In the case of regional cumulation: “regional cumulation".

(d) In the case of extended cumulation: “extend cumulation with country x”.