The circular, which comes into effect on November 15, stipulates that electronic C/Os will be created based on the ‘C/O of D’ sample and can be transferred online through the ASEAN single window system.

 

An electronic C/O will have the same legal effect as a physical, paper C/O. It can be applied, granted and used as a paper C/O.

 

The checks on electronic C/O applications will be similar to those on the paper ones. Related parties, including producers, exporters and organizations that grant C/O, have to keep the C/O data for five years from issuing date instead of the current three years.

 

The circular replaces the Circular No 42/2014/TT-BCT.

 

At the start of the year, ASEAN member countries agreed to review some of the content in the ATIGA. Later, the ASEAN secretary board submitted a request to the mid-term ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) for the revision of two items -  one, a list of information and technology goods, and two, administrative procedures for granting C/O and check-ups to apply C/O. In March, AFTA approved the list of the Information and Technology Agreement (ITA) as per HS 2012.