Proof of Origin under the CARIFORUM-EU EPA

Under the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), CARIFORUM businesses, including micro, small and medium sized enterprises can export their products without the imposition of duties and quantities (i.e. quotas) to European Union Member States. To benefit from this preferential treatment, CARIFORUM businesses must prove that their products are manufactured using the jointly agreed processes and or inputs, referred to as originating criteria or Rules of Origin. Protocol I to the EPA contains the Rules of Origin, and goods that meet the criteria are called originating.

Customs must certify that products are originating and eligible to benefit from duty and quota free entry. Customs in the exporting country issues a Movement Certificate EUR.1 as proof of origin to be presented by the importer to Customs in the importing country. The EUR.1 is valid for ten months from the date of issue.

There are exceptions to the requirement to use a Movement Certificate EUR.1. If the value of the products is below EUR 6000, a proof of origin called an invoice declaration can be made by the exporter. The invoice declaration is prepared on the basis of information that the product is originating by the exporter, who is responsible for the correctness of the information provided. The exporter must submit at the request of Customs all appropriate documents proving the originating status of the products. The invoice declaration may be presented in the importing country up to two years after the importation of the products to which it relates. The text of the invoice declaration is found at Annex IV to Protocol I.

Customs may authorise businesses which export frequently under the EPA to make invoice declarations; these exporters which have to be approved by Customs, are referred to as “approved exporters.” An approved exporter can use an invoice declaration irrespective of the value of the goods. Customs grants these exporters a customs authorisation number which must appear on the invoice declaration. At this time, there is no consensus among CARIFORUM States on the requirements for the invoice declaration facility, although it is being used by some States.

– EPA Implementation Unit, CARIFORUM Directorate (June 2025)