Origin

It is important to distinguish between regulations on origins that confer preferential tariff treatment and regulations on origins that do not confer preferential tariff treatment

Preferential origin of goods

Preferential treatment is based on the EU’s free trade agreement and decisions on unilateral benefits and confers duty relief or duty discounts. This means that products that originate from countries and areas included by these agreements may be fully exempt from customs duties, or eligible for reduced customs duties.

Free trade - Imports.

Non-preferential origin of goods

In cases where the EU has imposed provisions on licenses, anti-dumping duties, additional duties and countervailing duties, as well as quotas on imports from a specific country it is important to establish the product’s country of origin. The rules for establishing the origin in the context of these trade policy measures are known as rules of origin. These also apply in the context of sanctions and when producing trade statistics.

Generalised rules on non-preferential origin.

Legislation regarding non-preferential origin

Articles 59-63 Pdf. of the Union Customs Code of 9 October 2013.

Articles 31-36 Pdf, 1.1 MB. and Annex 22-01 Pdf, 2.2 MB. of the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446 of 28 July 2015 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards detailed rules concerning certain provisions of the Union Customs Codex.

Articles 57-59 Pdf, 1.3 MB. and Annex 22-14 Pdf, 813.5 kB. of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2015/2447 of 24 November 2015 laying down detailed rules implementing certain provisions of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of European Parliament and of the Council laying down the Union Customs Code.