G/RO/80  
 
18 November 2016  
(16-6347) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Rules of Ori gin Original: English  
 
 PARAGRAPH 4.2 OF THE  MINISTERIAL D ECISION OF 19 DECEMBE R 2015 ON 
PREFERENTIAL RULES O F ORIGIN FOR LEAST D EVELOPED COUNTRIES  
Communication by Switzerland  
The following communication, dated 16 November 2016, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegat ion of Switzerland.  
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1. Introduction  
The ministerial decision of 19 December 2015 on preferential rules of origin for Least Deve loped 
Countries states that "No later than 31 December 2016 each developed Preference -granting 
Member, and each dev eloping Preference -granting Member undertaking the co mmitments in 
accordance with paragraph 4.1 up to that date or thereafter, shall inform the Committee on Rules 
of Origin (CRO) of the measures being taken to implement the above provisions. " Accordingly, 
Switzerland informs the Committee on Rules of Origin of the follo wing. 
2. The Registered Exporter system (REX)  
- General Information  
The Swiss Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) is an autonomous system that grants 
unilateral tariff preferences to goods originating from developing countries.   It also implements the 
arrangements granted under the Decision on Measures in Favour  of LDCs  (Hong Kong Ministerial 
Declaration 2005) i.e. duty -free quota -free market access for goods originating in LDCs.  
Switzerlan d is, together with the European Union and Norway, currently introducing a new 
electronic system of self -certification of origin by exporters, the so called Registered Exporter 
system, the REX system.  The current system for proof of origin uses certificat es of origin Form A  
issued by competent authorities.  Under the REX system, Form A  certificates will be replaced by 
statements on origin (SoO).  In contrast to the current system, SoO will be issued by exporters.   
For this pu rpose, exporters have to be reg istered by the competent authorities of the exporting 
country.  
- Conditions of carriage  
In addition, the direct transportation rule will be replaced by a non -alteration rule, which makes it 
possible to split a consignment into sub -consignments without havi ng to present a 
non-manipulation certificate mandatorily.  
The introduction of the REX system together with the non -alteration rule, will significantly reduce 
administrative burdens related to documentary and procedural requirements.  G/RO/80  
 
- 2 - 
 
  - Introduction, notifi cation dates and transition period  
The REX system will be applicable as of 1 January 2017. Any eligible country wishing to a pply the 
REX system is requested to notify Swiss Customs in writing1. 
A beneficiary country has the option to start applying the sys tem one or two years later, that is 
either on 1 January 2018 or on 1 January 2019.   If a beneficiary country decides to start the REX 
system on 1 January 2018 (or on 1 January 2019), the beneficiary country shall inform Swiss 
customs no later than Septembe r 2017 (respectively no later than September 2018).  
Beneficiary countries will have a transitional period of 12 months to adapt the new system of 
self-certification of origin, until June 2020 , irrespective of the chosen introduction date .  During the 
12 month transition period, both SoO and Form A  certificates will be recognized as valid proofs of 
origin. After  this deadline, tariff preferences will only be granted based on a valid SoO. 
The curren tly used Form A  certificates will not be valid anymore.  
Switz erland encourages all beneficiary countries of its GSP scheme to introduce the Regi stered 
Exporter system and make use of its simplified procedures.  
__________  
                                                
1 Directorate General of Customs, Section Free Trade  and Customs Agreements, 
Monbijoustrasse 40,  3003 Bern, Switzerland