Introduction

Certificates of origin

A Certificate of Origin (C/O) is required by some countries and is intended to certify to the importing authorities as to which country the products being imported were manufactured in - that is, the C/O certifies that the imported product meets the Country of Origin requirements set by the importing country and expected of their foreign suppliers. It may be required that the C/O include information such as local material and labour content. In many cases, a statement of origin printed on company letterhead will suffice, although the document may need to be certified in some way. In other instances, specific types of C/Os may be required, such as the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) Form A and the Chamber of Commerce C/O.

Certificates of health

Certificates of health are normally required by the importing country to ensure that the imported goods (plants, plant products, animals and animal products) are in good health and carry no diseases, pests or any health-threatening organisms. Such certificates of health confirm (a) the origin of the shipment and, (b) that local authorities have inspected the consignment and ensure its good health. Certificates of Health can be divided into two types:

• Phytosanitary certificates which are required for the import of certain plants and plant products such as seeds and flowers. Phytosanitary certificates are governed by the International Plant Protection Convention and represent an internationally accepted means of pest risk mitigation.
• Veterinary certificates which are required for the import of live animals, as well as fresh, chilled or frozen animal products.

The exact import requirements are set by the importing country but are usually communicated to the corresponding authorities in South Africa (usually the Department of Agriculture). Your best option is therefore to contact both the importer to determine what the import requirements are and the Department of Agriculture to hear their side of the story. For Phytosanitary certificates, contact

The local authorities may charge a fee for such inspections and issuing of certificates.

Pre-shipment inspection certificates

It is not uncommon for importers to want to confirm that the to-be-exported goods meet their requirements. This is particularly so in instances where it is essential that the goods meet certain standards. These same importers unfortunately cannot always fly to all the countries from where they are buying their products and for this reason, they may:

1. Require that the shipment be inspected just before loading by an independent third-party appointed (and generally paid for) by the importer.
2. Ask the exporter to obtain a pre-shipment inspection certificate from an independent third-party inspection firm which is then forwarded to the importer. In this instance either the exporter or the importer may pay for the inspection, depending what was negotiated in the contract.

The independent contractor - usually a recognised firm in this field - will undertake a detailed inspection of equipment or materials after manufacture, but prior to shipment. The scope of the inspection includes quantity and quality, packing and marking and supervision of loading. A Certificate of Inspection can be provided against a Letter of Credit and may be authorised by a Chamber of Commerce. Occasionally, the importer may ask a trusted individual to undertake the inspection on their behalf.

Furthermore, some countries may require certification for selected products (this is independently from the importer) and in these instances a pre-shipment inspection is a necessary step to receive an import certificate for the shipment. Without this certificate the shipment will not be able to clear customs in the country of destination.

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