++++

COMMISSION REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 553/81

OF 12 FEBRUARY 1981

ON CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN AND APPLICATIONS FOR SUCH CERTIFICATES

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,

HAVING REGARD TO THE TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY ,

HAVING REGARD TO COUNCIL REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 802/68 OF 27 JUNE 1968 ON THE COMMON DEFINITION OF THE CONCEPT OF THE ORIGIN OF GOODS ( 1 ) , AND IN PARTICULAR ARTICLE 14 THEREOF ,

WHEREAS REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 802/68 PROVIDES IN ARTICLE 10 THAT CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN FOR GOODS ORIGINATING IN AND EXPORTED FROM THE COMMUNITY MUST COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS PRESCRIBED BY ARTICLE 9 OF THAT REGULATION ;

WHEREAS , WITH A VIEW TO ENSURING THAT THOSE PROVISIONS WERE RESPECTED IN A UNIFORM MANNER , THE COMMISSION LAID DOWN IN REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 582/69 ( 2 ) THE FORMS OF CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN AND APPLICATION FOR SUCH CERTIFICATES ; WHEREAS THOSE FORMS WERE LATER MODIFIED BY REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 518/72 ( 3 ) ; WHEREAS , HOWEVER , THAT MODIFIED VERSION IS NO LONGER IN CONFORMITY WITH THE MOST RECENT INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ; WHEREAS , IN PARTICULAR , IT IS NOT IN CONFORMITY WITH THE LAYOUT KEY RECOMMENDED BY THE ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE IN GENEVA FOR DOCUMENTS USED IN EXTERNAL TRADE ; WHEREAS , IN ORDER TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THAT RECOMMENDATION , IT IS DESIRABLE TO ADAPT THE SPECIMEN CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN AND APPLICATION FOR SUCH CERTIFICATE TO THE LAYOUT KEY ;

WHEREAS REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 582/69 FURTHERMORE PROVIDED THAT THE COMPETENT AUTHORITIES OR AUTHORIZED AGENCIES MUST RETAIN THE ORIGINAL APPLICATIONS FOR THE CERTIFICATES FOR A MINIMUM PERIOD OF THREE YEARS ;

WHEREAS EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN , ON THE ONE HAND , THAT A SHORTER PERIOD OF RETENTION IS SUFFICIENT , AND ON THE OTHER HAND , THAT COMMERCIAL DOCUMENTS ARE INCREASINGLY BEING KEPT IN THE FORM OF COPIES , WHICH ARE OFTEN REDUCED-SCALE COPIES ;

WHEREAS THE PRESENT MINIMUM PERIOD FOR THE RETENTION OF APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE REDUCED TO TWO YEARS AND AT THE SAME TIME , SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS , THE RETENTION OF APPLICATIONS IN THE FORM OF COPIES , WHICH MAY BE REDUCED-SCALE COPIES , SHOULD BE PERMITTED ;

WHEREAS , AS THIS REGULATION REPLACES REGULATIONS ( EEC ) NO 582/69 AND ( EEC ) NO 518/72 , THOSE REGULATIONS SHOULD BE REPEALED ;

WHEREAS , HOWEVER , IN ORDER TO ALLOW EXISTING STOCKS OF SUCH FORMS TO BE USED UP , THE SIMULTANEOUS USE OF OLD-STYLE AND NEW-STYLE FORMS SHOULD BE ALLOWED FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME ;

WHEREAS THIS REGULATION IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON ORIGIN ,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION :

ARTICLE 1

1 . CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN RELATING TO GOODS ORIGINATING IN THE COMMUNITY OR IN ONE OF THE MEMBER STATES THEREOF AND INTENDED FOR EXPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY , AND APPLICATIONS FOR SUCH CERTIFICATES , MUST , UNDER THE CONDITIONS LAID DOWN IN ARTICLES 9 AND 10 OF REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 802/68 , BE MADE OUT ON FORMS CONFORMING TO THE SPECIMENS ANNEXED TO THIS REGULATION .

2 . EACH CERTIFICATE AND THE APPLICATION FOR SUCH CERTIFICATE MUST , FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES , BEAR THE SAME SERIAL NUMBER . WHEN THE CERTIFICATES ARE ISSUED THE COMPETENT NATIONAL AUTHORITIES MAY IN ADDITION PLACE A NUMBER OF ISSUE ON THEM . IF THE NEEDS OF THE EXPORT TRADE SO REQUIRE , ONE OR MORE COPIES OF EACH CERTIFICATE MAY BE MADE .

ARTICLE 2

THE COMPETENT NATIONAL AUTHORITIES SHALL DETERMINE WHAT ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS , IF ANY , ARE TO BE GIVEN IN THE APPLICATION . SUCH ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS MUST BE KEPT TO A STRICT MINIMUM .

EACH MEMBER STATE SHALL INFORM THE COMMISSION OF THE PROVISIONS WHICH IT ADOPTS IN PURSUANCE OF THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH . THE COMMISSION SHALL IMMEDIATELY COMMUNICATE THIS INFORMATION TO THE OTHER MEMBER STATES .

ARTICLE 3

THE COMPETENT AUTHORITIES OR AUTHORIZED AGENCIES OF THE MEMBER STATES WHICH HAVE ISSUED CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN MUST RETAIN THE APPLICATIONS FOR A MINIMUM OF TWO YEARS .

HOWEVER , APPLICATIONS MAY ALSO BE RETAINED IN THE FORM OF COPIES THEREOF , PROVIDED THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBATIVE VALUE UNDER THE LAW OF THE MEMBER STATE CONCERNED .

ARTICLE 4

REGULATIONS ( EEC ) NO 582/69 AND ( EEC ) NO 518/72 ARE HEREBY REPEALED .

NEVERTHELESS , FORMS WHICH CONFORM TO THE SPECIMENS ANNEXED TO REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 518/72 MAY STILL BE USED UNTIL 31 MARCH 1983 .

ARTICLE 5

THIS REGULATION SHALL ENTER INTO FORCE ON 1 APRIL 1981 .

THIS REGULATION SHALL BE BINDING IN ITS ENTIRETY AND DIRECTLY APPLICABLE IN ALL MEMBER STATES .

DONE AT BRUSSELS , 12 FEBRUARY 1981 .

FOR THE COMMISSION

KARL-HEINZ NARJES

MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION

( 1 ) OJ NO L 148 , 28 . 6 . 1968 , P . 1 .

( 2 ) OJ NO L 79 , 31 . 3 . 1969 , P . 1 .

( 3 ) OJ NO L 67 , 20 . 3 . 1972 , P . 25 .

ANNEX

1 CONSIGNOR ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION )

NO . 000000

( SPACE RESERVED FOR ISSUING NUMBER )

ORIGINAL ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION )

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION )

CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION )

2 CONSIGNEE ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION )

3 COUNTRY OF ORIGIN ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION )

4 TRANSPORT DETAILS ( OPTIONAL ) ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION )

5 REMARKS ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION )

6 ITEM NUMBER ; MARKS , NUMBERS , NUMBER AND KIND OF PACKAGES ; DESCRIPTION OF GOODS ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION ) *7 QUANTITY ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION ) *

8 THE UNDERSIGNED AUTHORITY CERTIFIES THAT THE GOODS DESCRIBED ABOVE ORIGINATE IN THE COUNTRY SHOWN IN BOX 3 ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION )

PLACE AND DATE OF ISSUE ; NAME , SIGNATURE AND STAMP OF COMPETENT AUTHORITY ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION )

1 CONSIGNOR ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION )

NO . 000000

( SPACE RESERVED FOR ISSUING NUMBER )

COPY ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION )

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION )

CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION )

2 CONSIGNEE ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION )

3 COUNTRY OF ORIGIN ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION )

4 TRANSPORT DETAILS ( OPTIONAL ) ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION )

5 REMARKS ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION )

6 ITEM NUMBER ; MARKS , NUMBERS , NUMBER AND KIND OF PACKAGES ; DESCRIPTION OF GOODS ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION ) *7 QUANTITY ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION ) *

8 THE UNDERSIGNED AUTHORITY CERTIFIES THAT THE GOODS DESCRIBED ABOVE ORIGINATE IN THE COUNTRY SHOWN IN BOX 3 ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION )

PLACE AND DATE OF ISSUE ; NAME , SIGNATURE AND STAMP OF COMPETENT AUTHORITY ( SPACE RESERVED FOR TRANSLATION )

1 CONSIGNOR ( NAME , OR NAME OF FIRM , AND FULL ADDRESS , WHERE APPLICABLE AS SHOWN IN THE COMMERCIAL REGISTER )

NO . 000000

( SPACE RESERVED FOR ISSUING NUMBER )

APPLICATION

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN

2 CONSIGNEE ( NAME , OR NAME OF FIRM , AND FULL ADDRESS IF KNOWN OR MENTION " TO ORDER " )

3 COUNTRY OF ORIGIN ( " EUROPEAN COMMUNITY " OR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN CONCERNED )

4 TRANSPORT DETAILS ( OPTIONAL )

5 REMARKS

6 ITEM NUMBER ; MARKS , NUMBERS , NUMBER AND KIND OF PACKAGES ; DESCRIPTION OF GOODS ( FOR GOODS NOT PACKED INDICATE NUMBER OR " IN BULK " ) *7 QUANTITY ( EXPRESSED IN GROSS OR NET MASS OR OTHER UNITS OF MEASURE ) *

8 I , THE UNDERSIGNED ,

- APPLY FOR THE ISSUE OF A CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN INDICATING THAT THE GOODS DESCRIBED ABOVE ORIGINATE IN THE COUNTRY SHOWN IN BOX 3 ,

- DECLARE THAT THE PARTICULARS GIVEN IN THIS APPLICATION AND THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION FURNISHED TO THE COMPETENT AUTHORITIES WITH A VIEW TO THE ISSUE OF THIS CERTIFICATE ARE CORRECT , THAT THE GOODS TO WHICH SUCH DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION RELATE AR THOSE IN RESPECT OF WHICH THIS APPLICATION IS MADE , THAT THE GOODS FULFIL THE CONDITIONS LAID DOWN BY THE RULES CONCERNING THE COMMON DEFINITION OF THE CONCEPT OF THE ORIGIN OF GOODS ,

- UNDERTAKE TO FURNISH , AT THE REQUEST OF THE COMPETENT AUTHORITIES , SUCH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS AS MAY BE REQUIRED FOR THE ISSUE OF THE CERTIFICATE .

9 APPLICANT ( IF NOT THE CONSIGNOR )

PLACE AND DATE ... SIGNATURE OF THE APPLICANT ( 1 )

( SPACE FOR ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS REQUIRED BY INDIVIDUAL STATES )

( 1 ) THE SIGNATURE OF AN AGENT MUST BE FOLLOWED BY HIS NAME IN BLOCK CAPITALS .

RULES TO BE OBSERVED WHEN COMPLETING A CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN AND THE APPLICATION FOR SUCH CERTIFICATE

1 . THE FORMS SHALL BE COMPLETED IN TYPESCRIPT OR BY HAND , IN AN IDENTICAL MANNER , IN ONE OF THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF THE COMMUNITY OR , DEPENDING ON THE PRACTICE AND REQUIREMENTS OF TRADE , IN ANY OTHER LANGUAGE . WHERE FORMS ARE COMPLETED BY HAND , THIS SHALL BE DONE IN INK AND IN BLOCK CAPITALS .

2 . THE CERTIFICATE AND THE APPLICATION MUST NOT CONTAIN ERASURES OR SUPERIMPOSED CORRECTIONS . ALTERATIONS ARE TO BE MADE BY CROSSING OUT THE ERRONEOUS ENTRIES AND ADDING THE CORRECT ENTRIES AS REQUIRED . ANY SUCH ALTERATION MUST BE AUTHENTICATED BY THE PERSON MAKING IT AND ENDORSED BY THE COMPETEND AUTHORITIES .

3 . EACH ITEM LISTED IN THE APPLICATION AND ON THE CERTIFICATE MUST BE PRECEDED BY AN ITEM NUMBER . A HORIZONTAL LINE MUST BE DRAWN IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE FINAL ENTRY . LINES MUST BE DRAWN THROUGH UNUSED SPACESTO MAKE ANY SUBSEQUENT ADDITION IMPOSSIBLE .

4 . IF THE NEEDS OF THE EXPORT TRADE SO REQUIRE , ONE OR MORE EXTRA COPIES OF THIS CERTIFICATE MAY BE MADE .