A Certificate of Origin (CO) proves the origin of a product and acts as a declaration for customs or commercial reasons. A CO confirms that a product has been wholly obtained, manufactured or processed in a certain country.
You may require a CO if you are exporting your UK manufactured product and you have been asked for one by your buyer. They may request this document in order to take advantage of reduced tariffs on import customs clearance, subject to trade agreements between countries/regions – this is known as preferential.
A non-preferential CO may be used due to policy measures, which could be anti-dumping measures, trade embargoes or safety measures.
Your freight forwarder can handle the production of a Certificate of Origin for you. Mercator liaises with our local office to apply for Certificates of Origin regularly on our clients’ behalf. If we are handling your export shipment for you, then we can assist you with the production of the CO.
To apply for a CO for export from the UK you will need to present these documents: commercial invoice, address of the manufacturer, packing list, letter of authority, proof of origin if goods are manufactured outside the UK.
Generally the process of obtaining a CO for export shipping from the UK is a couple of days. If the request is urgent, we can expedite the process by personally attending the office producing the certificate.
Yes. Alongside the usual paperwork required for the CO, all your freight forwarder will need to provide to the office drawing up the certificate is a copy of the airway bill or bill of landing. Make sure you appoint a reputable freight forwarder to handle your UK export shipment, they will advise you from the start what you require for your shipment and will have the capabilities to handle it all for you as well.
If you have an export shipment you need a quote for, please contact us, we will be pleased to assist you. Our office is open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm: (+44) 02392 756 575; sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk; or complete the form below and we will be in touch.
Mercator Cargo has been running for over twenty years now and is still run and managed by the same founding family. Mr Paul (our MD) has been in the industry for almost forty years, and our imports and exports team have extensive knowledge of the freight forwarding industry.
Mercator Cargo is an independent freight forwarder. But what does this mean to you as the import or export customer? Traditionally, independent freight forwarders have had the means and the advantage of offering their customers a high quality personal service.
An independent freight forwarding outfit has excellent capabilities of being flexible with their customers, and the ability to be agile and respond quickly to their customers’ need for convenience. By having this valuable service, good rapport with customers, and formed links with other independent freight forwarders (via a global network), independent freight forwarders have the ability to offer just as comprehensive freight forwarding service, if not a better service than larger logistics companies.
The advantage of an independent freight forwarder being a part of a global network, is also something which can set apart one forwarder from another. Mercator Cargo is a founding partner of the independent freight forwarder network Marco Polo Line. The global network is made up of other independent freight forwarders from all around the world. The advantage of being part of this network includes having personal contacts in almost every country in the world, local knowledge around the globe, ability to offer door-to-door services in most countries, and tried and tested worldwide partners.
Independent freight forwarders, such as Mercator Cargo, have traditional strengths of innovative and bespoke premium services, teamed with the added value of thorough knowledge of their clients businesses and service.
If you’re looking for a reliable service from an independent freight forwarder, then call us today to discuss your shipping needs – Tel. 02392 756 575. Email: sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk.
10, St George’s Business Centre,
St Georges Square,
Portsmouth, PO1 3EZ, UK
Mercator is a family-run, UK based independent freight forwarder, offering highly effective sea, road and air freight services around the world.
