What is the origin of goods and why does it matter so much?
The origin of goods is the country where a product was grown or produced, or where it last underwent substantial processing. That's not always the country you send the parcel from.
For B2B shipments outside the EU, proving origin is essential, because it determines:
Import duties and levies: many countries have trade agreements. With the right document, your customer pays less (or no) import duty.
Trade policy measures: think of import quotas, anti-dumping duties or boycotts.
The Certificate of Origin (CO) explained
A Certificate of Origin (CO, in Dutch) is an official document that proves where your goods come from. Countries in the Middle East, Asia and parts of South America often ask for one. Without it, you risk your business shipment not making it across the border, or customs holding it.
An important detail: a CO doesn't give your customer any reduction on import duties. It serves purely as proof for the import rules of the destination country.
The EUR.1 certificate: save on import duties
Unlike the CO, the EUR.1 certificate (in Dutch) does bring a big financial advantage. The EU has trade agreements with various countries (such as Switzerland, Norway, and countries in Africa and South America).
If your products have preferential EU origin and you add an EUR.1 certificate to your export shipment, the recipient can benefit from reduced import duties or even a full exemption. That instantly makes your products a lot more competitive on the international market.
Arranging KVK export documents: how does it work?
Both the CO and the EUR.1 certificate are KVK export documents. You can't simply print them yourself: they have to be officially issued and stamped by the Kamer van Koophandel (the Dutch Chamber of Commerce).
To get them, you supply the KVK with evidence of where the goods come from (such as a supplier's declaration or a production overview). For the latest guidelines and the application process, see the official documentation from the Kamer van Koophandel (KVK).
How ParcelParcel makes your business shipments easier
Getting the right documents together can be complex and time-consuming. At ParcelParcel we know B2B logistics inside out. When you send a business parcel (in Dutch) through our platform, our logistics specialists support you at every step.
Our handy platform lets you book shipments with top carriers such as FedEx, DHL and UPS, and we're happy to advise you on the documents you need through our detailed customs information.
