Certificate of Origin for Exports to ASEAN, Nepal, SAPTA and SAFTA, Sri Lanka, Japan and China (APTA) only through DGFT Website from 7 April 2020 Today

· Only Electronic Issue Now, Hard Copy after Lifting of COVID-19 Lockdown

· Digital Signature must for Electronic Verification

[Trade Notice No. 01 dated 7^th April 2020]

Subject: Electronic filling and Issuance of Preferential Certificate of Origin for India’s Exports under various FTAs/PTAs w.e.f. 07th April 2020

In continuation to the earlier Trade Notice(s) 34/2015-2020 dated 19.09.2019, 41/2019-2020 dated 12.12.2020 and 53/2019-2020 dated 02.03.2020, it is informed that the Online Platform for Preferential Certificate of Origin is being further expanded to take up various other FTAs/PTAs. The platform has been designed as a single-point access for all FTAs/PTAs, for all designated Certificate of Origin (CoO) issuing agencies and for all export products, and is accessible at the URL: https://coo.dgft.gov.in

2. As the exporters are aware, Certificate of Origin for exports from India to Chile under India-Chile PTA, exports to Nepal under SAFTA & SAPTA and exports to Republic of Korea under India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IKCEPA) are already being applied and issued through this online platform.

3. To further this initiative and facilitation, and in the light of current crisis, the Preferential Certificate of Origin for exports to various other countries under following FTAs/PTAs shall also be applied and issued only from this online platform with effect from 07th April 2020.

FTAs/PTAs		Partner Countries
AIFTA	ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement	Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore , Thailand, Vietnam
IJCEPA	India Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement	Japan
SAPTA	SAARC Preferential Trading Agreement	Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. (already Live for Nepal)
SAFTA	South Asian Free Trade Area	Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka (already Live for Nepal)
APTA	Asia Pacific Trade Agreement	Bangladesh, China, Lao, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka
ISLFTA	India Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement	Sri Lanka

All concerned agencies are directed to issue preferential CoO for the above mentioned FTAs/PTAs through the platform URL: https://coo.dgft.gov.in

4. In view of the movement restrictions in place due to COVID-19 pandemic in India, the designated agencies will issue digitally signed electronic certificates of origin only and no hard copy of the same will be provided. The applicant exporter may download the certificate, so issued, from the online platform and share the e-certificate with the authorities in the FTA partner countries. Facility to view/print the issued certificates from the workstations/office of the applicant has also been provided. These online certificates will maintain the same layout, appearance and validity as the paper certificates.

5. A traceability and verification functionality is already built into the eCoO Platform. The electronic copy of the certificate will carry a digital signature of an authorized officer as already agreed to under the FTA/PTA. Certificates issued on this electronic platform can be verified by scanning the QR code available on the certificate or by cross checking the authenticity of the certificate serial number on the platform at https://coo.dgft.gov.in

6. As and when the functioning of the issuing agency offices resumes, the Certificate of Origin, so issued on the electronic platform, will also be made available in hard copy with ink-signature of the issuing officer to the applicant exporter besides the e-certificate. The certificate issuance process will continue to remain online.

7. Exporters may also take note of the following additional points with regard to the CoO portal/application process:

a. Digital Signature Certificate(DSC) would be required for the purpose of electronic verification. The digital signature would be the same as used in other DGFT applications;

b. The digital signature to be used may be Class II or Class III and should have the IEC number of the firm embedded in the DSC;

c. On registration at the portal, a password would be sent on the email link to the IEC holder. In case the IEC holder desires to update email on which communication is to be done with the portal, the same may be done by using the 'Online IEC application' module on the DGFT website.

d. Once registration is done, all directors'/partners' details and branch details would be auto-populated in the certificate of origin as available in the DGFT-IEC database. Please ensure that latest updated IEC details are available in the DGFT system and necessary steps taken to modify the IEC details online, whenever required;

e. For further guidance on registration and application, Help Manual & FAQs may be seen on the main page of the CoO platform.

f. For any assistance you may utilize any of the following channels —

i. Raise a complaint/suggestion ticket through Contact@DGFT service on the DGFT website

ii. Call Toll Free Helpline number 1800-111-550

iii. Send email to coo-dgft@gov.in

This issues with the approval of Director General of Foreign Trade.