Under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)[2], you self-certify origin: no chamber stamp and no approved-exporter registration. The certifier can be the exporter, producer, or importer, and completes a Certification of Origin with the nine minimum data elements set out in Annex 3-B[1]. One certification covers all 11 CPTPP markets where the UK has commitments.
Who can certify origin under CPTPP?
The certifier is the exporter, the producer, or the importer of the goods, and takes responsibility for the accuracy of the claim. This is the feature that separates CPTPP from a traditional chamber-stamped certificate: origin is declared by a party to the trade, not endorsed by a third party. An importer certifying on the basis of knowledge must hold enough information to support the claim.
What are the three CPTPP origin criteria?
| Criterion | What it means | Typical goods |
|---|---|---|
| WO | Wholly obtained in CPTPP parties (Art. 3.3) | Crops grown, minerals mined, fish caught there |
| PE | Produced exclusively from originating materials (Art. 3.2(b)) | Goods whose every input is itself originating |
| PSR | Meets the product-specific rule (Art. 3.2(c)) | Manufactured goods using some non-originating inputs |
Do I need a certification for low-value or repeat shipments?
- For goods imported into the UK, no formal CPTPP certification is required for consignments not exceeding £1,000. For exports, the destination country's own de minimis threshold applies, so check the importing country's rules before relying on a waiver.[1]
- A single certification can cover repeat shipments of identical goods as a blanket certification, for a period of up to 12 months from the date it is completed (CPTPP Art. 3.20.4(b)). The blanket period must be stated on the document.
- A certification is valid for 1 year from the date of issue, or 2 years if issued in the UK (CPTPP Art. 3.20.5). Validity is how long customs can rely on the document, which is separate from the blanket period.
How do I complete and use the certification?
Meeting the origin rule is only half the job; the claim is carried on the certification itself, sent to the importer.
- 1
Confirm the goods meet a CPTPP origin criterion
Identify the 6-digit HS commodity code in the UK Trade Tariff[3], then check whether the goods are WO, PE, or meet the product-specific rule (PSR) for that code in Annex 3-D or 4-A.
- 2
Complete the Certification of Origin
Set out all nine Annex 3-B data elements: certifier role and contact, exporter and producer details, importer if known, goods description and HS code, the origin criterion, any blanket period, and the signature, date, and certifying statement. Our CPTPP Certification of Origin generator collects all nine.
- 3
Send it to the importer and keep your records
You need a GB EORI number[4] to make the customs export declaration. Send the certification to the importer in the destination CPTPP market alongside your commercial invoice, then keep the origin working and supporting documents for at least 5 years in case of a verification request.
Primary sources
- 1.CPTPP rules of origin — business.gov.uk — Self-certification by exporter/producer/importer; origin criteria; UK £1,000 import waiver
- 2.CPTPP Chapter 3 — Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures — gov.uk — Annex 3-B minimum data elements; blanket period (Art. 3.20.4(b)); validity (Art. 3.20.5)
- 3.Trade Tariff: look up commodity codes, duty and VAT rates — gov.uk — The commodity code sets the product-specific rule (PSR) and the preferential rate
- 4.Get an EORI number — gov.uk — A GB EORI is needed to make the customs export declaration
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