Supplier’s declarations
Companies in the EU may use supplier declarations to prove the origin of goods purchased or sold in the EU
Companies in the EU may use supplier declarations to prove the origin of goods purchased or sold in the EU.
Supplier’s declarations are used to prove the origin of goods purchased or sold in the EU. A Swedish company exporting originating goods to customers in third countries may need supplier's declaration from sub-contactorscontractors within the EU to certify that originating materials has been used in production.
Supplier's declarations are also used when trading with Turkey to transfer information about the origin of goods that fall within the scope of Commodity Certificate A.TR.
Within the EU
Exporters issuing or requesting certificates of origin should be able to prove the origin of their goods. If the exporter purchased originating goods from a supplier in the EU, the company may need information about the origin of the goods from the supplier. If the goods are not sufficiently worked or processed by the company to qualify as originating goods, information from sub-contractors may be used to demonstrate that the aggregate processing in the EU qualifies the goods for originating status.
We use legally binding supplier's declarations in the EU to transfer information about the origin of goods between companies. This means that a person issuing a supplier's declaration is obliged to demonstrate the veracity of the information in the certificate to a customs authority, just like an exporter issuing or requesting certificates of origin. In other words, they need to present documents certifying the origin of any goods included in the supplier's declaration.
As retrospectively issued long-term supplier's declaration cannot be issued for longer back than one year from when the original supplier's declaration was issued, it is important for companies to maintain goods procedures for supplier's declarations. The reason for this is that companies that lack the necessary supporting documents prior to issuing a certificate of origin risk not being able to obtain supplier's declarations retrospectively, for example in the context of post clearance examination going back several years in time. The consequences may be significant, as the customer in the country of destination may become liable for customs duty for the goods
Between the EU and Turkey
Since A.TR. does not certify the origin of goods, the EU and Turkey have agreed to use supplier's declarations to certify goods that are traded within the scope of the customs union. This may be needed if a consignee in Turkey or the EU intends to re-export the goods to a different PEM country, either unaltered or after processing.
Exporting to ACP States, OCTs, Algeria, Tunisia or Morocco
Suppliers in the EU may issue supplier’s declarations for materials that are processed in the EU, without obtaining originating status, and exported to ACP States (African, Caribbean and Pacific States), OCTs (Overseas Countries and Territories), Algeria, Tunisia or Morocco for further processing.
There are designated templates associated with each free-trade agreement for supplier's declarations for export goods intended to be re-imported to the EU after processing. These are two examples of such templates (from the OCT arrangement). The first refers to originating goods and the second to non-originating goods.
Declaration for products having preferential origin status
Pdf, 33.1 kB.
Declaration for products not having preferential origin status Pdf, 36 kB.
Exporting to Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
Suppliers in the EU may issue supplier's declarations for materials that have been processed in the EU without meeting the criteria for beneficial origin status, which are to be shipped to Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein to be part of the production of originating goods.
For goods manufactured in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein to obtain EEA origin status, the manufacturer may need supporting documents showing any prior processing of the input materials within the EEA, for example in the EU. If the materials already have preferential origin status, the certificates of origin may be used as supporting documents. If the materials need further processing to obtain preferential origin status, the supporting document should be a supplier's declaration.
Origin criteria when exporting to Japan
Please state the origin criteria in the statement on origin when exporting to Japan. If the exporter does not manufacture the goods, but purchases them from a manufacturer in the EU, the supplier's declaration should contain information about origin criteria.
Provisions and templates for supplier's declarations
Supplier's declarations may be issued per consignment or for longer periods of time. The declaration for each consignment should be added to the corresponding invoice or bill of lading, or any other commercial document where the affected goods are described in sufficient detail. Long-term supplier’s declarations are separate certificates.
Long-term supplier’s declarations
Long-term declarations of origin may be issued under the following conditions:
- The goods should be delivered regularly to the same customer.
- The origin status of the goods and the circumstances of their production should remain unchanged during the time of validity of the declaration.
- The declaration should contain three dates: date of issue, start date and end date.
- The declaration’s period of validity may not exceed two years from the start date to the end date.
- The declaration may be issued retrospectively, but with a period of validity that does not exceed 12 months from the date of issue.
- The start date may not be more than 6 months after the date of issue.
The supplier should inform the customer without delay if any information in the declaration ceases to be valid. Supplier's declarations should be signed by hand and may be issued on pre-printed forms. There is no need to sign the declarations if the invoices and supplier's declarations are drawn up digitally, and the following criteria have been met: The supplier should write a written undertaking to the purchaser, in which they assume full liability for any supplier's declaration where they are identified, as though the declaration were signed by them. They may also be authenticated digitally on the same conditions. The name of the responsible person should be stated on the supplier's declarations.
Supplier's declaration templates
Find templates for supplier's declarations in English in the links below.
- Per goods consignment with preferential origin, see Annex 22-15 Pdf, 519.2 kB.;
- For longer time periods for products with preferential origin, see Annex 22-16; Pdf, 525.5 kB.
- Per goods consignment without preferential origin, see Annex 22-17 Pdf, 1.2 MB.;
- For longer time periods for products without preferential origin, see Annex 22-18. Pdf, 1.3 MB.
In the latter two cases, you should indicate that the input goods were manufactured in the EU, and itemise any non-originating materials included in the input goods.
Guide to supplier’s declarations.
Inspection of supplier's declarations
To verify the validity and authenticity of a supplier's declaration, Swedish Customs is authorised to contact the exporter and demand that they procure Information Certificate INF 4 from the supplier, in accordance with Annex 22.02. Information Certificate INF-4 should be issued by the customs authorities in the country where the supplier is established.
Legislative framework for supplier's declarations
Articles 61-66 and Annexes 22-02, 3 , 22-15, 22-16, 22-17 , and 22-18 of the UCC Implementing Regulation.
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