India-MERCOSUR Customs Tariff (Determination of Origin of Goods under the Preferential Trade Agreement) Rules, 2009

Rule 1. Short title and commencement

Rule 2. Definitions

Rule 3. General requirements

Rule 4. Cumulation of origin

Rule 5. Wholly produced or obtained products

Rule 6. Not wholly produced or obtained products

Rule 7. Processes or operations considered as insufficient to confer originating status

Rule 8. Accessories, spare parts and tools

Rule 9. Fungible Materials

Rule 10. Sets

Rule 11. Packages and packing materials for retail sale

Rule 12. Containers and packing materials for transport

Rule 13. Neutral elements or indirect materials

Rule 14. Direct transport, Transit and Trans-shipment

Rule 15. Origin Certification

Rule 16. Operations carried out by third operators

Rule 17. Issue of Origin Certificates

Rule 18. Presentation of an Origin Certificate

Rule 19.-23 Competent Authorities

Rule 24. Investigation Proceedings

Rule 25. – 27 Documentation

Rule 28. Investigation Period

Rule 29. – 30 Investigation Process

Rule 31. Investigation Concludes

Rule 32. Investigation Established

Rule 33. Competition

Rule 34. Proceedings of Verification

Rule 35. Receipt of the Communication

Rule 36. Time Periods

Rule 37. Special Economic Zones

56-Cus(NT)        In exercise of the powers conferred by
30.05.2009          sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Customs
                            Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, namely:-

Rule 1. Short title and commencement

(1) These rules may be called the Customs Tariff (Determination of Origin of Goods under the Preferential Trade Agreement between the Governments of MERCOSUR Member States comprising the Argentine Republic, the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Republic of Paraguay and the Republica Oriental del Uruguay and the Republic of India) Rules, 2009 (hereinafter referred as the “Rules”).

(2) They shall come into force on the 1st day of June 2009

General Provisions

Rule 2. Definitions

For the purpose of these Rules:

(a) "chapters", "headings" and “subheadings” mean the chapters, the headings and the subheadings (two, four and six digit codes respectively) used in the nomenclature which makes up the Harmonized System or HS;

(b) “CIF price” means the price paid to the exporter for the product when the goods pass the ship’s rail at the port of importation. The exporter pays the costs and freight necessary to deliver the goods to the named port of destination;

(c) "classification" refers to the classification of a product or material under a particular subheading of the HS at 6 digit level and of the respective national tariff schedules of the Signatory Parties at the 8 digit level.

(d) "customs value" means the value as determined in accordance with the Article VII and the Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of GATT 1994 (WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation);

(e) “FOB price” means the price paid to the exporter for the product when the goods pass the ship´s rail at the named port of shipment, thereafter, the importer assumes all the costs including the necessary expenses to the shipment;

(f) "goods" means both materials and products

(g) "Harmonized System" means the nomenclature which makes up the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System including the chapters and the corresponding number codes, section notes and chapter notes, as well as the General Rules for their interpretation;

(h) “manufacture" means any kind of working or processing including assembly or specific operations;

(i) "material" means raw materials, ingredients, parts, components, subassembly and/or goods that are physically incorporated into another good or are subject to a process in the production of another good;

(j) “product” means the product being manufactured, even if it is intended for later use in another manufacturing operation;

(k) The “territory of India” means the territory of the Republic of India including its territorial waters and the air space above its territorial waters and the other maritime zones including the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf over which Republic of India has sovereignty, sovereign rights or exclusive jurisdiction in accordance with its laws in force, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and international law.

The “territory of the Member States of MERCOSUR” means the respective territories of the Member States of MERCOSUR, including their respective territorial seas and the air space above, and other maritime zones, including the Exclusive Economic Zones and Continental Shelves over which they respectively have sovereignty, sovereign rights or exclusive jurisdiction in accordance with their respective laws in force, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and international law.

(l) "value of originating materials" means the value of such materials on the basis of FOB value.

Section II – Criteria for Originating Goods

Rule 3. General requirements

For the purpose of implementing the Preferential Trade Agreement between the Governments of MERCOSUR Member States comprising the Argentine Republic, the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Republic of Paraguay and the Republica Oriental del Uruguay and the Republic of India (hereinafter referred as the “Agreement”) , the following goods shall be considered as originating from a Signatory Party:

(a) The goods wholly produced or obtained in the territory of the Signatory Party as defined in Rule 5 of these Rules;

(b) The goods not wholly produced in the territory of the Signatory Party, provided that the said products are eligible under Rule 4 or Rule 6 read with Rule 7 of these Rules.

2. The provisions of paragraph 1 above excludes used or second hand goods.

Rule 4. Cumulation of origin

Goods originating in any of the Signatory Party when used as an input for a finished product in another Signatory Party, shall be considered originating in the latter.

Rule 5. Wholly produced or obtained products

The following shall be considered as wholly produced or obtained in the territory of any of the Signatory Party:

(a) mineral products extracted from the soil or subsoil of any of the Signatory Parties, including its territorial seas, continental shelf or exclusive economic zone;

(b) plants [1] and plant products grown, harvested, picked or gathered there including in its territorial seas, continental shelf or exclusive economic zone;

[1] Plant refers to all plant life ,including forestry products, fruits, flowers, vegetables, trees, sea weeds and fungi.

[2] Animals referred to in paragraph (c), (d) and (e) covers all animal life, including mammals, birds, fish, crustaceans, molluscs and reptiles.

(d) products from live animals as in (c) above;

(e) animals and products thereof obtained by hunting, trapping, collecting, fishing and capturing there; including in its territorial seas, continental shelf or in the exclusive economic zone;

(f) waste and scrap resulting from utilization, consuming or manufacturing operations conducted in the territory of any of the Parties, provided they are fit only for the recovery of raw materials

(g) products obtained from the seabed and subsoil beyond the limits of national jurisdiction are considered to be :

(i) wholly obtained in the State that has exploitation rights granted by the International Seabed Authority.

(ii) wholly obtained in the sponsoring State of a natural or juridical person that has exploitation rights, granted by the International Seabed Authority.

(h) goods produced in any of the Parties exclusively from the products specified in subparagraphs (a) to (g) above.

Rule 6. Not wholly produced or obtained products

1. For the purpose of Rule 3(1) (b) the products are considered to be originating when the CIF value of all non – originating materials from countries other than the Signatory Parties and/or of undetermined origin used in its manufacture does not exceed 40% of the FOB value of the final product and the final process of manufacture is performed within the territory of the exporting Signatory Party subject to fulfillment of the provisions of Rule 7.

2. For the purposes of determining the CIF value of non – originating materials for countries without a coastline, the first seaport or inland waterway port located in any of the other Signatory Parties, through which those non – originating materials have been imported shall be considered as port of destination.

3. The value of the non-originating materials, parts or produce shall be:

i) The CIF value at the time of importation of the products where this can be proven; or

ii) The earliest ascertained price paid for the products of undetermined origin in the territory of the Signatory Party where the working or processing takes place:

4. The formula for 60% value added is as follows:

CIF Value of imported            +           CIF Value of
Non-originating materials,            Undetermined Origin
Parts or Produce                        Materials, Parts or Produce
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- X 100% <40%
                                       FOB price

Rule 7. Processes or operations considered as insufficient to confer originating status

In the case of the products which have non-originating materials, the following operations, inter alia, shall be considered as insufficient working or processing to confer the status of originating products, whether or not the requirements of Rule 6 are satisfied:

(a) preserving operations to ensure that the products remain in good condition during transport and storage such as aeration, drying, refrigeration, immersion in salty or sulphured water or in water added with other substances, extraction of damaged parts and similar operations;

(b) Dilution in water or in any other substance which does not substantially alter the product characteristics;

(c) Simple operations such as removal of dust, sifting, screening, sorting, classifying, grading, matching, washing, painting, husking, stoning of seeds, slicing and cutting;

(d) simple change of package and breaking-up and assembly of packages;

(e) simple packing in bottles, cans, flasks, bags, cases, boxes, fixing on cards or boards and all other simple packaging operations;

(f) affixing or printing marks, labels, logos and other like distinguishing signs on products or their packaging;

(g) simple cleaning, including removal of oxide, oil, paint or other coverings;

(h) simple assembly of parts to constitute a complete article or disassembly of products into parts, in accordance with General Rule 2a of the Harmonised System;

(i) slaughter of animals;

(j) simple mixing of products, provided the characteristics of the obtained product are not essentially different from those of the mixed products;

(k) oil application;

(l) a combination of two or more of the above operations.

Rule 8. Accessories, spare parts and tools

1. Accessories, spare parts or tools delivered with the good that form part of the good's standard accessories, spare parts, or tools, shall be considered as originating if the good originates and shall be disregarded in determining whether all the non-originating materials used in the production of the good undergo the applicable change in tariff classification, provided that:

a) the accessories, spare parts or tools are not invoiced separately from the good, notwithstanding they are detailed separately in the invoice;

b) the quantities and value of the accessories, spare parts or tools are customary for the good.

2. Each Signatory Party shall provide that if a good is subject to a value added requirement, the value of accessories, spare parts, or tools shall be taken into account as originating or non-originating materials, as the case may be, in calculating the value added.

Rule 9. Fungible Materials

1. For the purpose of establishing if a product is originating when in its manufacture are utilized originating and non-originating fungible materials, mixed or physically combined, the origin of such materials can be determined by any of the inventory management methods applicable in the Signatory Party.

2. Where considerable cost or material difficulties arise in keeping separate stocks of originating and non-originating materials which are identical and interchangeable, the customs authorities may, at the written request of those concerned, authorise the "accounting segregation" method to be used for managing such stocks.

3. This method must be able to ensure that the number of products obtained which could be considered as "originating" is the same as that which would have been obtained if there had been physical segregation of the stocks.

4. The customs authorities may grant such authorisation, subject to any conditions deemed appropriate.

5. This method is recorded and applied on the basis of the general accounting principles applicable in the country where the product was manufactured.

6. The beneficiary of this facilitation may issue or apply for proofs of origin, as the case may be, for the quantity of products which may be considered as originating. At the request of the customs authorities, the beneficiary shall provide a statement of how the quantities have been managed.

7. The customs authorities shall monitor the use made of the authorisation and may withdraw it at any time whenever the beneficiary makes improper use of the authorisation in any manner whatsoever or fails to fulfil any of the other conditions laid down in these Rules.

Rule 10. Sets

Sets, as defined in General Rule 3 of the Harmonised System, shall be regarded as originating when all component products are originating. Nevertheless, when a set is composed of originating and non originating goods, the set as a whole shall be regarded as originating, provided that the CIF value of the non originating goods utilized in the composition of the set does not exceed 15% percent of the FOB price of the set.

Rule 11. Packages and packing materials for retail sale

1. The packages and packing materials for retail sale, when classified together with the packaged product, according to General Rule 5 (b) of the Harmonised System, shall not be taken into account for considering whether all non-originating materials used in the manufacture of a product fulfil the criterion corresponding to a change of tariff classification of the said product.

2. If the product is subject to value added criterion, the value of the packages and packing materials for retail sale shall be taken into account in its origin assessment, in case they are treated as being one for customs purposes with the goods in question.

Rule 12. Containers and packing materials for transport

The containers and packing materials exclusively used for the transport of a product shall not be taken into account for determining the origin of any good, in accordance with General Rule 5 (b) of the Harmonized System.

Rule 13. Neutral elements or indirect materials

1. “Neutral elements" or “Indirect materials” means goods used in the production, testing or inspection of goods but not physically incorporated into the goods, or goods used in the maintenance of buildings or the operation of equipment associated with the production of goods, including:

(a) energy and fuel;

(b) plant and equipment,;

(d) parts and materials used in the maintenance of plant, equipment and buildings;

(e) goods which do not enter into the final composition of the product;

(f) gloves, glasses, footwear, clothing, safety equipment, and supplies;

(g) equipment, devices, and supplies used for testing or inspecting the goods.

2. Each Signatory Party shall provide that an indirect material shall be considered to be an originating material without regard to where it is produced. Its value shall be the cost registered in the accounting records of the producer of the export product.

Rule 14. Direct transport, Transit and Trans-shipment

In order for the originating goods or products to benefit from the preferential treatment provided for under the Agreement, they shall be transported directly between the exporting Signatory Party and the importing Signatory Party. The goods or products are transported directly provided:

1. They are transported through the territory of one or more Signatory Parties;

2. They are in transit through one or more territories of third countries, with or without trans-shipment or temporary warehousing in such territories, under the surveillance of the customs authorities therein, provided that:

i) the transit entry is justified for geographical reasons or by consideration related exclusively to transport requirements;

ii) they are not intended for trade, consumption, use or employment in the country of transit;

iii) they do not undergo operations other than unloading, reloading or any operation designed to preserve them in good condition;

Section III – Proof of Origin

Rule 15. Origin Certification

1. The Origin Certificate is the document that certifies that goods fulfil the origin requirements as set out in these Rules so that they can benefit from the preferential tariff treatment as foreseen in the Agreement. The said Certificate is valid for only one importing operation concerning one or more goods and its original copy shall be included in the documentation to be presented at the customs authorities of the importing Signatory Party.

2. The issue and control of Origin Certificates shall be under the responsibility of a Government office in each Signatory Party. The Origin Certificates shall be directly issued by those authorities or through delegation as referred to in Rule 17(5)

3. The Origin Certificate shall be issued in accordance with the sample certificate of origin and notes for completion thereof, attached as Appendix-I to these Rules and upon a sworn declaration by the final producer of the goods and the respective commercial invoice.

4. In all cases, the number of the commercial invoice shall be indicated in the box reserved for this purpose in the Origin Certificate.

Rule 16. Operations carried out by third operators

1. If the traded good is invoiced by an operator from a third country, be it a Signatory Party or not, for the issue of the Origin Certificate, the final producer or exporter of the good shall present the first commercial invoice and a corresponding sworn declaration by the final producer certifying that the goods fulfil the origin criteria of these Rules. Value addition carried out only in the Signatory Party shall be taken into account for calculation of local value addition.

2. The producer or the exporter from the country of origin shall inform in the respective Origin Certificate, in the box reserved for “observations”, that the good corresponding to the said Certificate shall be invoiced by a third operator, reproducing the following data from the commercial invoice issued by this operator: name, address, country, number and date.

3. If it is not possible to comply with the requirements mentioned in Rule 16(2), the Commercial Invoice attached to the Importation Request shall contain a Sworn Declaration attesting that the Commercial Invoice corresponds to the Origin Certificate. The Sworn Declaration shall convey the corresponding number and the date of issue of the origin certificate and shall be signed by the operator. In the event of non-compliance of this requirement, the customs authorities shall not accept the Certificate of Origin and shall not grant the tariff preferences established in this Agreement.

Rule 17. Issue of Origin Certificates

1. For the issue of an Origin Certificate, the final producer or exporter of the good shall present the corresponding commercial invoice and a request containing a sworn declaration by the final producer certifying that the goods fulfil the origin criteria of these Rules, as well as the necessary documents supporting such a declaration. The said sworn declaration shall contain at least the following data:

a) Individual’s name or company name;

b) Legal domicile;

c) Description of the good to be exported and its tariff classification;

d) FOB value of the goods to be exported;

e) Information relating to the good to be exported, which must indicate:

i) materials, components and/or parts originating from the exporting Signatory Party;

ii) materials, components and/or parts originating from other Signatory Parties, indicating:

1) origin;

2) tariff classification;

3) CIF value, in US dollars;

4) Percentage on the total value of the final product.

iii) materials, components and/or parts non-originating from the Signatory Parties, indicating:

1) exporting country;

2) tariff classification;

3) CIF value, in US dollars;

4) Percentage on the total value of the final product.

iv) description of the manufacturing process.

2. The description of the good in the sworn origin declaration, which certifies the fulfilment of the origin requirements set out in these Rules, shall correspond to the respective tariff classification, as well as with the description of the good in the commercial invoice and in the Origin Certificate.

3. If the goods are regularly exported and their manufacturing process, as well as their materials are not modified, the Sworn Declaration of the Producer may be valid for a period of up to one hundred eighty (180) days counted from the date of the issue of the certificate.

4. The Origin Certificate shall be issued not later than five (5) working days after the request presentation and it shall be valid for a period of one hundred and eighty (180) days from the date of its issue, which shall be extended, for the necessary period, if the goods are under a suspensive import regime which implies the deposit of the good and does not allow any alteration of the good.

5. The Origin Certificate shall be signed and issued by Government offices to be indicated by the Signatory Parties who may delegate the signing and issuing of origin certificates to other Government offices or to highly representative corporate bodies.

6. The origin certificates shall not be issued before the date of the issue of the commercial invoice relating to the consignment, but in the same date or within the following sixty (60) days.

7. The requesting party and the certifying offices or institutions shall keep the documents supporting the origin certificates for a period no less than five (5) years, from the date of its issue. The certifying offices or institutions shall enumerate the certificates issued by them in sequential order.

8. The certifying offices or institutions shall keep a permanent record of all issued origin certificates, which shall contain at least the certificate number, the requesting party’s name and the date of its issue.

Section IV – Control and Verification of Origin Certificates

Rule 18.

1. Regardless of the presentation of an origin certificate in accordance with the Rules, the competent authorities of the importing Signatory Party may, in the cases of reasonable doubt, request to the competent authorities of the exporting Signatory Party any additional information necessary for the verification of the authenticity of a certificate, as well as the veracity of the information contained therein. This shall not preclude the application of the respective national legislation relating to breach of customs law.

2. The compliance with the request for additional information according to this Rule shall only be made with reference to the registers and documents available in Government offices or in the institutions entitled to issue origin certificates. Copies of the documentation necessary for the issuing of origin certificates can be made available. This Rule, however, does not restrain the interchange of information as foreseen in the Customs Cooperation Agreements.

3. The reasons for the doubts concerning the authenticity of the certificate or the veracity of its data shall be put forward in a clear and concrete way. For this purpose, the consultations thereon shall be carried out by a specific office of the competent authorities designated by each Signatory Party.

4. The competent authorities of the importing Signatory Party shall not suspend the importation operations of the goods. However, they may request a guarantee in any of its modalities, in order to preserve fiscal interests, as a pre-condition for the completion of the importation operations.

5. If a guarantee is required, its amount shall not be higher than the value of the applicable custom duties concerning the importation of the product from third countries, according to the legislation of the importing country.

Rule 19.

The competent authorities from the exporting Signatory Party shall provide the requested information according to Rule 18 within thirty (30) days, from the date of the receipt of the request.

Rule 20.

The information obtained under the provisions of Rule 19 shall be confidential in character and shall be utilised with a view to clarifying the matter under investigation by the competent authorities of the importing Signatory Party as well as during the investigation and legal proceedings.

Rule 21.

In the cases in which the information requested under Rule 18 is not provided within the deadline established in Rule 19 or is insufficient to clarify any doubt concerning the origin of the good, the competent authorities of the importing Signatory Party may initiate an investigation on the matter within sixty (60) days, from the date of the request for the information. If this information is satisfactory, the said authorities shall release the importer from the guarantee referred to in Rule 18 within thirty (30) days.

Rule 22.

1. During the period of investigation, the competent authorities of the importing Signatory Party shall not suspend new importing operations relating to identical goods from the same exporter or producer. However, they may request a guarantee, in any of its modalities, in order to preserve fiscal interests, as a pre-condition for the completion of the importation operations.

2. The guarantee amount, whenever it is requested, shall be according to Rule 18.

Rule 23.

The competent authorities of the importing Signatory Party shall immediately notify the importer and the competent authorities of the exporting Signatory Party of the initiation of the origin investigation, in accordance with the Rule 24.

Rule 24.

During the investigation proceedings, the competent authorities of the importing Signatory Party may:

a) request, through the competent authorities of the exporting Signatory Party, new information, as well as any copy of the documentation in possession of the person who issued the origin certificate under investigation, according to Rule 18, which may be deemed necessary for verifying the authenticity of the said certificates and the veracity of the information contained therein. In such a request, the number and the date of the issue of the origin certificate under investigation shall be indicated.

b) for the purposes of verification of the contents of the local or regional added value, require access to any information or documentation necessary for establishing the CIF value of the non-originating goods used in the production of the goods under investigation and the producer or exporter shall facilitate the same.

c) for the purposes of verification of the characteristics of certain production processes required as specific origin requisites, require access to any information and documentation that allow the confirmation of such processes and the exporter or producer shall facilitate the same.

d) send to the competent authorities of the exporting Signatory Party a written questionnaire to be passed on to the exporter or producer, indicating the origin certificate under investigation;

e) request to the competent authorities of the exporting Signatory Parties to facilitate visits to the premises of the producer, with a view to examining the production processes, as well as the equipment and tools utilized in the manufacture of the product under investigation.

f) require that the competent authorities of the exporting Signatory Party shall accompany the authorities of the importing Signatory Party in their above-mentioned visit, which may include the participation of specialists who shall act as observers. The specialists, who shall be previously selected, shall be neutral and have no interest whatsoever in the investigation. The exporting Signatory Party may deny the participation of such specialists whenever the latter represent the interests of the companies or institutions involved in the investigation.

g) require that once the visit is concluded, the participants shall subscribe the minutes of it, in which it shall be indicated that it was carried out according to the conditions established in these Rules. The said minutes shall contain, in addition, the following information: date and place of the carrying out of the visit; identification of the origin certificates which led to the investigation; identification of the goods under investigation; identification of the participants, including indications of the organs and institutions to which they belong; a visit report.

h) accept the exporting Signatory Party’s request for the postponement of a verification visit for a period not more than thirty (30) days.

i) carry out other actions as agreed upon between the Signatory Parties involved in the case under investigation.

Rule 25.

The competent authorities of the exporting Signatory Party shall provide the information and documentation requested according to Rule 24 (a) and (b), within thirty (30) days from the date of the receipt of the request.

Rule 26.

In relation to the proceedings as foreseen in Rule 24, the competent authorities of the importing Signatory Party may request the competent authority of the exporting Signatory Party the participation or advice of specialists concerning the matter under investigation.

Rule 27.

In the cases in which the information or documentation requested to the competent authorities of the exporting Signatory Party is not produced within the stipulated deadline, or if the answer does not contain enough information or documentation for determining the authenticity or veracity of the origin certificate under investigation, or still, if the producers do not agree to the visit, the competent authorities of the importing Signatory Party may consider that the products under investigation do not fulfil the origin requirements, and may, as a result, deny preferential tariff treatment to the products mentioned in the origin certificate under investigation according to Rule 21, and thus conclude such investigation.

Rule 28.

1. The competent authorities of the importing Signatory Party shall engage to conclude the investigation in a period not more than ninety (90) days, from the date of the receipt of the information requested in accordance with Rule 24.

2. If it is considered that new investigative actions or the presentation of more information are necessary, the competent authorities of the importing Signatory Party shall communicate the fact to the competent authorities of the exporting Signatory Party. The term for the execution of such new actions or for the presentation of additional information shall be not more than ninety (90) days, from the date of the receipt of the information, according to Rule 24.

3. If the investigation is not concluded within ninety (90) days from its initiation, the importer shall be released from the payment of the guarantee, regardless of the continuation of the investigation.

Rule 29.

1. The competent authorities of the importing Signatory Party shall inform the importers and the competent authorities of the exporting Signatory Party of the conclusion of the investigation process, as well as the reasons that led to its decision.

2. The competent authority of the importing Signatory Party shall grant the competent authority of the exporting Signatory Party the access to the investigation files, in accordance with its legislation

Rule 30.

During the investigation process, occasional modifications in the manufacturing conditions made by the companies under investigation shall be taken into account.

Rule 31.

Once the investigation concludes in favour of the qualification of the origin of the goods and the validity of the origin criterion contained in the origin certificate, the importer shall be released from the guarantees requested in Rule 18 and 22, within no more than thirty (30) days.

Rule 32.

1. Once the investigation establishes the non-qualification of the origin criterion of the goods contained in the origin certificate, the duties shall be levied as if the goods were imported from third countries and the sanctions foreseen in this Agreement and/or the ones foreseen in the legislation in force in each Signatory Party shall be applied.

2. In such a case, the competent authorities of the importing Signatory Party may deny preferential tariff treatment to new imports relating to identical good from the same producer, until it is clearly demonstrated that the manufacturing conditions were modified so as to fulfil the origin requirements of the Rules of Origin of these Rules.

3. Once the competent authorities of the exporting Signatory Party has sent the information demonstrating that the manufacturing conditions were modified, the competent authorities of the importing Signatory Party shall have forty five (45) days, from the date of the receipt of the said information, to communicate its decision thereupon, or a maximum of ninety (90) days if a new verification visit to the producer’s premises, according to Rule 24 (e), is deemed necessary.

4. If the competent authorities of the importing and the exporting Signatory Parties fail to agree on the demonstration of the modification of the manufacturing conditions, they may make use of the Dispute Settlement Procedure established as per Article 29 of this Agreement.

Rule 33.

1. A Signatory Party may request another Signatory Party to investigate the origin of a good imported by the latter from other Signatory Party, whenever there are well-founded reasons for suspecting that its products undergo competition from imported products with preferential tariff treatment which do not fulfill the conditions laid down under these Rules.

2. For such purposes, the competent authorities of the Signatory Party requesting the investigation shall bring to the notice of the authorities of the importing Signatory Party the relevant information within forty five (45) days, from the date of the request. Once this information is received, the importing Signatory Party may initiate the proceedings established in these Rules, giving notice of this to the Signatory Party that requested the initiation of the investigation.

Rule 34.

The proceedings of verification and control of origin as foreseen in these Rules may also apply to the goods already cleared for home consumption.

Rule 35.

Within sixty (60) days, from the receipt of the communication as provided in Rule 29 or sub-rule (3) of Rule 32, in case the measure is inconsistent, the exporting Signatory Party may request for consultation to the Joint Administration Committee of this Agreement, stating the technical and legal reasons that would indicate that the measure adopted by the competent authorities of the importing Signatory Party are not consistent with these Rules; and/or request a technical advice with the aim of establishing whether the goods under investigation fulfil the origin rules of this Agreement.

Rule 36.

The time periods set in these Rules shall be calculated on a consecutive day basis as from the day following the fact or event which they refer to.

Special Economic Zones

Rule 37.

1. The provisions set out in these Rules shall also apply to Special Economic Zone and the competent authorities in each Signatory Party will be responsible for the control of origin with respect to activities covered under this Rule.

2. The MERCOSUR States and India shall take all necessary steps to ensure that products, traded under cover of a certificate of origin which in the course of transport use a Special Economic Zone situated in their territory, are not substituted by other goods and do not undergo handling other than normal operations designed to prevent their deterioration.

3. When goods originating in the Signatory Parties are imported into a Special Economic Zone under cover of the origin certificate mentioned in Rule 17 and are fractioned, the certifying offices or institutions mentioned in Rule 17(5) may issue a new origin certificate, based on the original one, for the quantity that is required, until the total quantity of goods is covered.

[F. No. 467/25/2003-Cus.V/ICD]

Appendix-I

Form Agreed upon by India and Mercosur for the origin Certificate

Certificate of Origin
1. Producer or exporter (name, address, country)					Reference No. of Certificate India-Mercosur PTA
2. Importer (name, address, country)					Stamp, address and name of the Certifying Authority
3. Port of shipment					4. Country of destination
					5. Commercial invoice Number Date / /
6. N.⁰ Order		7. tarrif item number	8. Description of goods				9. Gross weight or other quantity

N.⁰ Order		10. Origin criterion

11. Observations
Origin Certification
12.Declaration by the Producer or Exporter: The undersigned hereby declares that the mentioned goods were produced in (country) and they comply with the origin requirements specified in (Agreement). Date / /				13.Certification by Certifying Authority: It is hereby certified the authenticity of the previous declaration in accordance with the applicable legislation. (Place),
	Stamp and signature					Stamp and signature

(back)

I. To qualify for preference, products must:

a. fall within a description of products eligible for concessions in the country of destination under this agreement.

b. comply with Customs Tariff (Determination of Origin of Goods under the Preferential Trade Agreement between the Governments of MERCOSUR Member States comprising the Argentine Republic, the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Republic of Paraguay and the Republica Oriental del Uruguay and the Republic of India) Rules, 2009. Each Article in a consignment must qualify separately in its own right; and

c. comply with the consignment conditions specified by these Rules . In general products must be consigned directly within the meaning of Rule 14 hereof from the country of exportation to the country of destination.

II. Entries to be made in Box 10

Preference products must be wholly produced or obtained in the exporting Contracting Party in accordance with Rule 5 of these Rules, or where not wholly produced or obtained in the exporting Contracting Party must be eligible under Rule 4 or Rule 6 of these Rules.

1. If products are wholly produced or obtained enter the letter ‘A’ in box 10.

2. Products not wholly produced or obtained; the entry in box 10 should be as follows:

Enter letter ‘B’ in box 10 for products, which meet the origin criterion according to Rule 6. Entry of letter would be followed by the sum of the value of materials, parts or produce originating from non-contracting parties or undetermined origin used, expressed as a percentage of the F.O.B. value of the products; (example B( ) percent).

Enter letter ‘C’ in box 10 for products, which meet the origin criteria according to Rule 4. Entry of letter ‘C’ would be followed by the sum of the aggregate content originating in the territory of the exporting Contracting Party expressed as a percentage of the F.O.B. value of the exported product: (example ‘C’ ( ) per cent).