Incorrect documentation hikes export costs

The Ekurhuleni North
Chamber of Commerce
and Industry has
told FTW that it is
experiencing a number
of errors in certificates
of origin (CoO) –
which ultimately
delay exports and cost
exporters time and
money.
According to
chamber manager
Pam Murray, should
demurrage take
place, this amounts
to thousands of
rands payable – so it
is vitally important to have
certificate of origin forms
completed correctly.
The CoO is a document
used in international trade.
As a printed or electronic
document, it is completed
by the exporter and certified
by a recognised issuing
authority, attesting to the
fact that the goods in a
particular export shipment
have been produced,
manufactured or processed
in that country. And, due to
the widespread network of
the chamber of commerce
community, these chambers
are seen as the primary
organisations allowed to
issue certificates of origin.
The CoO is required by
some countries and certifies
that the imported product
meets the ‘country of origin’
requirements set by that
importing country, and
which are expected of their
foreign suppliers. It may
also require that the CoO
includes information such
as local material and labour
content.
In other instances,
specific types of CoOs
may be required – such as
the generalised system of
preferences (GSP) Form
A and the Chamber of
Commerce CoO.
Given that this can be a
vital document for exports
to certain states, exporters
should be aware of exactly
what is required. And, to
overcome the errors that the
Ekurhuleni North CoC&I
has experienced, it has
programmed a training
session intended to explain
the detail of CoOs and how
to physically complete these
documents.