G/RO/W/183  
 
19 February 2019  
(19-0951) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Rules of Origin  Original: English  
 
OVERVIEW OF THE SUPP ORT PROVIDED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION ON TH E 
IMPLEMENTATION OF TH E REGISTERED EXPORTE R SYSTEM (THE REX SY STEM)  
Submission by the European Union  
The following submission, dated 14 February 2019, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the European Union.  
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At the October 2018 meeting of the Committee on Rules of Origin, the European Union (EU) updated 
Members about the implementation of the EU "Rex system" of self -certification for registered 
exporters (RD/R O/71). The purpose of this note is to inform the WTO CRO about the  different  
capacity building efforts  made by EU to assist Least developed countries with the implementation of 
the REX system.  
 
1  TRAINING SESSIONS ON  THE REX SYSTEM  
1.1 Since 2016, four three -day training sessions are organised each year, mostly in Brussels and 
sometimes in a third country. The objective has been to invite all countries benefitting from the EU 
GSP scheme, and other countries benefitting from the GSP schemes of Norway and Switz erland, in 
which the REX system is also applicable.  
1.2 The costs of participation for two participants per country are taken in charge by the EU for 
the beneficiary countries benefitting from the EU GSP scheme, and by Norway (NO) and Switzerland 
(CH) for the specific beneficiary countries benefitting only from the Swiss or Norwegian GSP scheme.  
1.3 The table below shows the sessions that have already taken place, and which countries 
participated.  
Date and place  Participants  
November 2016,  
Brussels  Comoros; India; Kenya; Laos; and Zambia.  
For NO/CH GSP schemes: Brazil; Kosovo; and Thailand.  
February 2017,  
Brussels  Angola; Bhutan; Ethiopia; Nepal; Niue; Pakistan;  Solomon  Islands; and 
Sao Tomé and Principe . 
February 2017,  
Brussels  Central African Republic; Equatorial Guinea; Mali; and Togo.  
September 2017,  
India Cambodia; India; Kyrgyz Republic ; Lao People' s Democratic Republic ; 
Myanmar; Mongolia; Uzbekistan; and Viet Nam.  
October 2017,  
Brussels  Armenia; Bolivia, Plurinational  State of ; Eswatini; Ghana; The Gambia; 
Guinea; Sri Lanka; Myanmar; Malawi; Niger; Rwanda; and Tanzania . 
For NO/CH GSP schemes: Argentina; Maldives; and Mauritius.  
February 2018,  
Brussels  Democratic Republic of Congo; Cook Islands; Côte d'Ivoire ; Kiribat i; 
Mozambique; Nauru; Chad; and Tonga.  
For NO/CH GSP schemes: South Africa; Malaysia; and Belarus.  
June 2018,  
Brussels  Sudan ; Tajikistan; Uganda  
For NO/CH GSP schemes: Botswana; Namibia  
October 2018,  
Brussels  Bangladesh; Burundi; Indonesia; Lesotho; Philippines; Samoa;  
Sierra  Leone; and Vanuatu.  
For NO/CH GSP schemes: Cuba; Antigua and Barbuda; 
the Republic  of Moldova; Uruguay; and Paraguay.  G/RO/W/183  
 
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  Date and place  Participants  
November 2018,  
Cape Verde  Cabo Verde; Nigeria; and Senegal.  
March 2019,  
Brussels  Already confirmed: Afghanistan; and Madagascar.  
For NO/CH GSP schemes: Jamaica; Guyana ; and Zimbabwe . 
 
1.4 The training program still foresees four training sessions in 2019 and four training sessions in 
2020. After that date, all countries benefitting  from the GSP schemes of the EU;  Norway;  or 
Switzerland will be applying the REX system.  
1.5 The tentative dates for the training sessions in 2019 are:  
• 12-14 March, Brussels (confirmed);  
Possible participation of:  
- Afghanistan ; Benin ; Burkina Faso ; Djibou ti; Eritrea ; Haiti; Madagascar ; Mauritania ; 
Somalia;  
- Some Overseas Countries or Territories of the EU (OCT 's); 
- For NO/CH GSP schemes: Azerbaijan;  Guyana ; Jamaica;  Zimbabwe;   
• June, in a third country (to be confirmed);  
• September, Brussels (to be confirmed); and  
• November, Brussels, (to be confirmed).  
2  VIDEOCONFERENCES  
2.1 On request, in particular for the countries that have difficulties to travel, or for countries that 
needed further assistance, the EU has provided training sessions by means of vid eoconferences.  
2.2 The following countries have benefitted from this possibility: Cambodia; Guinea;  
Guinea -Bissau;  and Philippines . 
3  E-LEARNING  
3.1 The European Commission provides on its website an e -learning module on the REX system. 
It is currently avail able in French and English.  
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/eu -training/general -overview/ucc -elearning -programme_en  
4  CONTACTS  
4.1 For specific questions concerning training on the REX system provided by the EU (DG TAXUD), 
please contact Ms Anne -Marie Michels ( anne-marie.michels@ec.europa.eu ), Mr François Becquart 
(francois.becquart@ec.europa.eu ) or Mr Christophe Fontaine ( Christophe.fontaine@ec.europa.eu ). 
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