When your business exports goods outside the European Union, navigating customs and international paperwork is a daily reality. One of the most critical aspects of global B2B trade is proving the origin of goods. Destination countries need to know exactly where your products were manufactured to apply the correct import restrictions or customs duties. In this comprehensive guide, we explain exactly which origin documents you need, the difference between a Certificate of Origin (CO) and an EUR.1 certificate, and how to optimize your global supply chain.
Chantal has been writing about logistics topics for almost two decades and has worked for major international carriers.
The origin of goods refers to the economic nationality of the product—where it was grown, produced, or underwent its last substantial transformation. Keep in mind that this is not necessarily the country you are shipping from.
For B2B shipments leaving or entering the EU, proving the origin is essential because it determines:
Import duties and taxes: Many countries have bilateral trade agreements. With the correct documentation, your buyer pays lower (or zero) import duties.
Trade policy measures: This includes import quotas, anti-dumping duties, or trade embargoes.
A Certificate of Origin (CO) is an official document proving the origin of your goods. Countries in the Middle East, Asia, and parts of South America frequently require this document. Without a CO, you risk having your commercial shipment delayed or rejected by customs authorities.
It is important to note that a standard CO does not grant your customer a discount on import duties. It serves purely to satisfy the customs and import regulations of the destination country.
Unlike the standard CO, the EUR.1 certificate provides a massive financial advantage. The EU has preferential trade agreements with various countries and regions (such as Switzerland, Norway, parts of Africa, and South America).
If your products have preferential EU origin status, including an EUR.1 certificate with your export shipment allows the receiver to benefit from reduced or completely waived import duties. This makes your goods highly competitive on the global market!
Both the CO and the EUR.1 are classified as official export documents. You cannot simply create and print these yourself; they must be officially issued and stamped by the Chamber of Commerce (KVK in the Netherlands).
To obtain them, you must provide proof of origin, such as a supplier's declaration or production records. For detailed and up-to-date guidelines on export regulations, you can consult the official Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KVK) guidelines for doing business abroad.
Handling international customs documents can be complex and time-consuming. At ParcelParcel, we specialize in B2B logistics. When you choose us for your international parcel shipping, our logistics experts are ready to support you at every step.
We provide a seamless platform to book shipments with premium carriers like FedEx, DHL, and UPS, and we offer extensive guidance through our custom duty clearance resources to ensure your shipments cross borders without delay.
A Certificate of Origin (CO) simply proves the country of manufacture and is used to meet local import requirements. An EUR.1 certificate is specifically used for countries with which the EU has a trade agreement, granting the importer a reduction or exemption from import duties.
Did this answer help?
No, they are not always mandatory. It depends on the destination country, the type of goods, and the value of the shipment. Always check the specific customs requirements of the country you are exporting to.
Did this answer help?
You can apply for these documents digitally through an intermediary or directly at the Chamber of Commerce. You must always be able to prove the origin of the goods using supplier declarations or production certificates.
Did this answer help?
No, the European Union does not currently have a preferential trade agreement with the United States that utilizes the EUR.1 certificate. Standard import duties will apply based on the HS code of your product.
Did this answer help?
Our logistics specialists guide you and provide targeted advice on which documents are required for your specific shipment. Through our platform, you can easily generate your commercial invoices, laying the foundation for smooth customs clearance.
Did this answer help?
You can instantly check the shipping costs through our rate calculator. Enter the weight, dimensions, and destination country of your shipment, and you will see all available shipping options along with their respective delivery times. The calculator can be used to compare shipping rates for both export and import shipments.
If you need help calculating a shipping rate, watch the video below. Click on the 
button to play the video and the 
icon to view the video in fullscreen.
Did this answer help?
Shipping costs are calculated based on dimensions (LxWxH in cm), weight (in kg), and the destination country. Both the actual weight (as shown on the scale) and the volumetric weight are considered.
The volumetric weight is the weight calculated based on the space your shipment occupies in the plane. The higher of the two weights (volumetric or actual weight) is used to calculate the shipping rate. You don't need to calculate this yourself; our calculator does it for you.
Did this answer help?
You can use the discount code PP10 for 10% discount on the transportation costs of your first shipment. You can apply the discount code during the checkout process (instructions).
Did this answer help?
Whether additional costs apply depends on whether your shipment stays within the European Union or is sent to/from a country outside the European Union. Below, you can see the additional costs for each situation.
Within the European Union
If, for example, you send a shipment from the Netherlands to Italy (within the EU), there will be an additional 21% VAT on the shipping costs.
Furthermore, if your shipment stays within the European Union, you won't have to deal with any import duties or customs clearance fees because your shipment doesn't go through customs. Please note that the European Union is not the same as Europe.
View here all the countries that are part of the European Union. For example, Switzerland is part of Europe but not part of the European Union.
Outside the European Union
If, for example, you send a shipment from the Netherlands to the United States, there will be no VAT (0%) applied to the displayed shipping rates.
However, there might be import duties levied by customs in the destination country if you send a shipment to/from a country outside the European Union. Typically, customs costs are charged to the recipient. This is known as Delivered At Place (DAP) in logistics terminology.
Customs is a government agency that levies import duties in certain cases to protect the local market. As a company, you can also ship using Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), which means any customs costs will be charged to you as the sender.
If you have any questions about this topic, feel free to contact us. Additionally, you can read everything about import duties, VAT, and the customs clearance process in this blog.
Did this answer help?
A customs invoice is a form where all the goods you want to ship are specified. This invoice includes an English description of the goods, along with their corresponding value and weight.
The contents of your shipment must be specified per type of product you're sending to avoid delays at customs. A customs invoice is always prepared in quadruplicate in accordance with customs guidelines.
When is a customs invoice required?
A customs invoice is only required for shipments to/from countries outside the European Union (e.g., Netherlands - United States). If your shipment stays within the European Union (e.g., Netherlands - Italy), your shipment will not go through customs, and therefore, a customs invoice is not required.
Additionally, document shipments are not subject to customs, so if you're sending a document to a country within/outside the European Union, no customs invoice is needed.
Please note that not all goods can be shipped to every country. You can find a list of goods that cannot be sent via ParcelParcel on this page.
Do I need to create a customs invoice myself?
If you're sending a shipment to/from a country outside the European Union, it's mandatory to include a customs invoice with the shipment. We provide free support in creating a customs invoice.
You can easily generate a customs invoice through our shipping platform. The customs invoice will be automatically generated based on the content you specified during your booking.
Did this answer help?
You can import just as easily as export via ParcelParcel.
Did this answer help?
You can find a list of goods that cannot be shipped via ParcelParcel on this page.
Did this answer help?
