Our internal Export Documentation team processes hundred of UK Certificates of Origin applications every week many of which are rejected due to basic errors.
To help our members and non-members avoid these costly delays, we’ve put together a list of common errors leading to rejections to look out for. Please see below 3 common errors and how to avoid them:
· Back of the application
On the back of your application, you are given the choice of 3 options to determine the origin of your products: (1) UK Origin - Wholly obtained, (2) UK Origin – Significant process in the UK, (3) Foreign Origin. Please note that box 1 can only be ticked if the goods are natural products (eg. Live animals, minerals, etc.) or manufactured entirely from materials originating in the UK. Most manufactured products would fall under Box 2. If you’re ticking Box 1, please make sure this is correct.
· Information not matching/typos
Everything on the Certificate of Origin must be verifiable through the supporting documents. A typo or a simple error on the invoice number or the weights will mean your application will be rejected and will need to be resubmitted. The most common errors will be when an application has been copied and the invoice number and date have not been updated. Please verify everything is correct before submitting your application.
· Foreign Origin
When ticking Box 3 at the back of your application you are confirming that your goods are of Foreign Origin. In those cases, you must provide evidence of the origin. This could be through a foreign certificate of origin, a statement from the manufacturer on letterhead or a copy of the manufacturer’s invoice. Only certain documents will be accepted and we recommend you check your goods are compliant prior to submitting your application. For a copy of the list of acceptable foreign evidence, please contact the team on the below emails.
Need further support?
If you have any questions on the above or if you’d like to speak to the team about your export documentation requirements, please contact the team at exportbritain@gmchamber.co.uk and a member of the team will be happy to help.
Please also check our website for more information or email our Export Documentation team at exportdocs@gmchamber.co.uk