Статья 4.33. Проверка происхождения / Article 4.33. Verification of Origin

Article 4.33
Verification of Origin

1. Where the customs authorities of the importing Party have reasonable doubts as to the authenticity of a Certificate of Origin (or Declaration of Origin) or the eligibility for preferential tariff treatment of the goods covered by the Certificate of Origin (or Declaration of Origin), or in the case of a random check, they may, within the record-keeping requirements set out in Article 4.26 (Record-Keeping Requirements), conduct verification by means of:

(a) written requests for additional information from the importer;

(b) written requests for additional information from the exporter or producer through the verification authority of the exporting Party; or

(c) requests to the verification authority of the exporting Party to verify the origin of goods as provided in paragraph 3.

2. All verification requests shall be accompanied by sufficient information to identify the goods concerned. A request to the verification authority of the exporting Party shall be accompanied by a copy of the Certificate of Origin (or Declaration of Origin) and shall specify the circumstances and reasons for the request. A copy of the verification request, and its accompanying documents, shall also be transmitted electronically from the customs authority of the importing Party to the verification authority in the exporting Party, via the contact addresses referred to in subparagraph 1(a) of Article 4.31 (Notifications).

3. The verification authority, in response to a verification request under subparagraph 1(c), shall promptly confirm whether the Certificate of Origin (or Declaration of Origin) was issued in the exporting Party, and in cases where the verification request concerns the fulfilment of origin criteria, whether the goods covered under the Certificate of Origin (or Declaration of Origin) are originating in accordance with origin criteria established under this Agreement. The verification authority, if requested by the customs authorities of the importing Party, shall also enclose the supporting documents provided by the exporter or producer on which basis the Certificate of Origin was issued. The customs authorities of the importing Party shall determine whether the goods are eligible for preferential tariff treatment.

4. The customs authority of the importing Party may suspend preferential tariff treatment to the goods concerned while awaiting the results of the verification. In the event that a determination is made by the customs authority that these goods qualify as originating goods of the exporting Party, any suspended preferential tariff treatment shall be reinstated.

5. The verification authority of the exporting Party receiving a verification request shall confirm electronically the receipt of the verification request, and respond to the request promptly within six (6) months after the date of such request. A copy of the response to the verification request shall also be transmitted electronically from the verification authority of the exporting Party to the customs authority of the importing Party via the contact addresses referred to in subparagraph 1(a) of Article 4.31 (Notifications).

6. To the extent allowed by the Parties' respective laws, regulations and practices, the competent authorities of the Parties shall fully cooperate in any action to verify eligibility of goods for preferential tariff treatment in accordance with this Agreement.

7. The entire process of verification shall be completed within nine (9) months from the date of the verification request.