G/RO/W/160/Rev.1  
 
25 October 2016  
(16-5839) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Rules of Origin  Original: English  
 
SUBMISSION OF BENIN ON BEHALF OF LEAST -DEVELOPED COUNTRIES  
Draft Decision on Template for the Notification of Preferential Rules of Origin  
for Least developed countries  
Revision  
The following communication, dated 15 October 2016, is being circulated at th e request of the 
delegation of Benin.  
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Adopted on [date] 2016  
The Committee on Rules of Origin,   
Considering  the Ministerial Decision on Preferential Rules of Origin for least developed countries 
(WT/L/917/Add.1) adopted at the tenth Sessio n of Ministerial Conference held in Nairobi, whereby 
Ministers instructed the CRO to develop a template for the notification of preferential rules of 
origin, to enhance transparency and promote a better understanding of the rules of origin 
applicable to im ports from LDCs.  
Agrees as follows:  
Preference -granting Members shall notify the preferential rules of origin applicable to imports from 
Least developed countries (LDCs) under their respective preferential trade arrangements (PTA) 
using the template specif ied in Annex A to the Committee on Rules of Origin.  
In addition to filling in the template in Annex A, preference -granting Members shall submit 
electronic or paper copies of the following documents.  
(a) The legislative texts in one of the official WTO lan guages containing the preferential rules of 
origin applicable under the arrangements granted under the Decision on Measures in Favour 
of Least -Developed Countries (Annex F of the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration);  
(b) The full text of the administrative r egulations concerning modalities for issuance, 
acceptance, retrospective issuance, replacement of certificate of origin or equivalent 
declarations made by private operators as stipulated according to the preference -granting 
members and related procedure, n otifications of stamps used where required and related 
requirements;  
(c) The full text and related administrative regulations of the modalities for the proof of 
movement of the consignment of the goods from the bene ficiary countries to 
preference -giving co untries including transit through third countries; and  
(d) The full texts of the modalities of the verification procedures and related penalties.  
The purpose of this decision is to enhance transparency and better understanding of the rules of 
origin applic able for preferential import from least developed countries. These procedures do not 
affect Members' rights and obligations under the WTO Agreements in any way.  G/RO/W/160/Rev.1  
 
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  The Decision shall be applied to all existing preferential rules of origin applicable for impor t from 
least developed countries and any modification in future as well as any future preferential trade 
arrangements introduced by any members for least developed countries.  
First Notifications shall be submitted to the Secretariat by latest [date].  G/RO/W/160/Rev.1  
 
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  ANNE X A 
Template for Notification for Preferential Rules of Origin for Least -Developed Countries  
A. BASIC INFORMATION  
1) Notifying member:  (Name of the Notifying Member);  
2) Date of entering into force of Rules of origin and any modification thereof:  (Insert  date and 
link to relevant source, if available);  
3) Date of expiration of Rules of origin if applicable:  (Insert date and link to relevant source);  
4) Title of the preferential scheme for which legislation on Rules of origin is applicable;  
5) Authority(i es) granting the preferential treatment :  (Insert which authority is granting the 
preferential treatment and link to relevant source); and  
6) National authorities in charge of Rules of origin administration with direct phone number and 
email address:  (Insert which authority is entitled to administrate the rules of origin and link 
to relevant source).  
B. INFORMATION ON RULES OF ORIGIN  
I.  BENEFICIARIES  
(a)  List of Beneficiaries :  (Insert the link where the complete list of beneficiaries can be found 
and mo dalities are found); and  
(b)  Eligibility :  (Name the document, article/section where the eligibility criteria can be found 
and insert the specific related link).  
II.  CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING SUBSTANTIAL TRANSFORMATION FOR ASSESSING 
THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN  
(a) General criteria, if applicable for all products:  
i. Definition of wholly obtained products;  
ii. Describe the criteria for not -wholly produced products ; and  
iii. Insert the formula for calculating ad valorem  percent age. 
(b) Product specific rules of o rigin where applicable : 
i. Insert the link where the complete list of product specific rules of origin can be found ;  
ii. Insert the formula for calculating ad valorem  percentage, when applied for product 
specific rule . 
(c) Definition of non -originating ma terial and originating material;  
(d) List of insufficient working process;  
(e) Rules for application of cumulation and related procedures; and  
(f) Any other information that member deems necessary . 
III.  DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENT  
i. Certificate of origin an d other proofs of origin  
(a) Requirement for certificate of origin and/or any other proof of origin, if any:  (Indicate 
whether there is any requirement for issuance of certificate of origin and/or any other 
proof of origin);  
(b) Authority to be designated  for issuance of certificate of origin:  (Indicate whether 
government authority or private sector is to be designated for issuance the certificate 
of origin);  
(c) Prescribed form of Certificate of origin and/or any other proof of origin:  (Attach 
prescribe d form if applicable); and  
(d) Any other procedures applied for certificate of origin and/or any other proof of origin, 
if any.  G/RO/W/160/Rev.1  
 
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  ii. Direct shipment  
(a) Rules applicable for direct shipment, if any;  
(b) Documentary requirement for proof of direct shipment i ncluding when the transport of 
consignment involves transit through one or more intermediate countries, if any.  
IV.  VERIFICATION AND PENALTIES  
(a)  Procedure for verification of proofs of origin :  (Name the document, article/section where 
provisions relat ed to verifications can be found and insert the specific related link) ; 
(b)  Penalties for fraud and false declarations:  (Name the document, article/section where 
provisions related to penalties can be found and insert the specific related link) ; 
(c)  Authorities and procedures for appeal in the case of dispute on verification ; 
(d) Requirement for preserving the documents related to issuance of certificate of origin; and  
(e) Any other relevant information . 
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