The Bureau of Customs (e-CO) is encouraging all transacting stakeholders to stay informed about and utilize the electronic certificate of origin (e-CO) using the TradeNet platform, the Philippines’ new national single window (NSW) for facilitating trade transactions.
According to Vanessa R. Hosana, of the BOC’s Export Coordination Division (ECD), the TradeNet platform was created by the Department of Finance (DOF) to ease and simplify the application, submission and processing of e-COs.
The e-CO refers to the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) Form D, an international trade document attesting that goods in a particular export shipment were wholly obtained, produced, manufactured, or processed in a particular country.
As stated in Customs Memorandum Order No. 15-2019, TradeNet’s main objective is to facilitate the transmission of e-COs for export products and the receipt of e-CO for imported products within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.
To apply for the issuance of the e-CO, the applicant should first log in to the BOC website www.client.customs.gov.ph using the registered stakeholder’s account.
The applicant should then open a ticket and submit the complete documentary requirements for the pre-evaluation of the export products to the ECD or to the Export Division (ED) of the port where the stakeholder regularly processes his export declaration.
The exporter should submit the application for pre-evaluation of export products “20 working days prior to his or her intended exportation of products,” reminded Hosana, who spoke at a BOC-organized webinar on the Philippines’ national single window held on November 5.
The ECD will review the documents and act on the application within 10 working days from the date of receipt of complete documents. The evaluation may be extended for another 10 working days if plant visits are needed.
If the application is approved, the ECD/ED will send a copy of the Product Evaluation Report (PER) to the applicant containing the list of qualified and approved products.
However, if the application is disapproved due to non-qualification with the Rules of Origin (ROO) and OCP (Operational Certification Procedure) ATIGA, ECD will write to the applicant stating the reason for non-qualification.
Hosana explained that a product evaluation is required when applying for a CO. This is in order to determine if the goods subject for export will qualify for the issuance of Certificate of Origin based on the Rules of Origin to be used.
It is also required “to be able to identify if the goods are deemed to be originating and qualify for preferential tariff treatment, and if it conforms to the origin requirements as stipulated on the rules of origin of each Philippine free trade area partner.”
To apply for a pre-export evaluation of the export products, the exporter should submit all documents at either the nearest port or directly to the ECD for evaluation.
If the application is approved, the ECD or the port personnel will generate and issue a Product Evaluation Report (PER) containing the list of qualified products, with a copy furnished the exporter.
The PER and the list of pre-evaluated goods of each newly approved application will be uploaded to TradeNet and the exporter can already apply for the issuance of the outbound e-CO.
To apply, the exporter should access his or her TradeNet account and fill in all relevant data fields and upload the necessary documents as attachments to the application, said Hosana.
After a risk assessment review of the application, the assistant chief of the ECD or ED will forward the application with the recommended action to the ECD or Export Division chief, who may either approve or disapprove the application for issuance of the outbound e-CO.
TradeNet will notify the exporter of the ECD’s or ED’s action on the application. In case the application is turned down, the exporter may file another application for e-CO, said Hosana.
For inquiries and assistance, stakeholders may write to tradenetsecretariat@dof.gov.ph.