2nd Report of the Market Access Ombudsman Council (March 14, 1995)

3-(1) Acceptance of country of origin certificates by intermediary exporting countries relating to the import of silk fabrics

1. Complainant: German Chamber of Commerce in Japan

2. Ministry concerned: Ministry of International Trade and Industry

3. Complaint:

Since 1976 the Government of Japan has concluded volume quotas for imports of silk fabrics in the bilateral agreements with China and Korea, two of the main producing areas. From the viewpoint of making these bilateral agreements effective, and to prevent falsification of country of origin, country of origin certificates issued by official organizations in the country of origin are checked at the customs in case of silk fabrics imported from the EU and some other countries.

The complainant believes that this checking system makes it possible to determine the source of the imports that is regarded as one of the corporate secrets, and that country of origin certificates issued by the exporting country should be accepted.

4. Results of deliberation:

As the Ministry has been studying the EU regulations concerning unified country of origin, it has been made clear that in the EU, country of origin certificates issued by the non-producing countries are treated in the same way as those issued by the producing countries.

Accordingly, it is decided that necessary measures will be taken by the end of this fiscal year to enable silk fabrics, as long as they are produced in the EU to pass through the Japanese Customs when they are accompanied by country of origin certificates issued by official organizations in the non-producing countries within the EU.

It is considered to be consistent with the EU unification to take measures which are designed to enable imports from the EU countries to pass through the Japanese Customs when they are accompanied by the country of origin certificates issued by official organizations in the non-producing EU countries, and therefore, such measures are regarded as appropriate in facilitating further market access. It is expected that this step will satisfy the request made by the complainant.

Government decision (March 28, 1995)

3-(1) Acceptance of country of origin certificates by intermediary exporting countries relating to the import of silk fabrics

The necessary measures will be taken within this fiscal year to ensure customs entry silk fabrics produced in the EU accompanied by certificates of origin issued by official organizations of non-producing countries within the EU.

Follow-up (May 27,1996)

3-(1) Acceptance of country of origin certificates by intermediary exporting countries relating to the import of silk fabrics

Since April 1995, it has become possible to submit to the Customs country of origin certificates for silk fabrics produced in the EU issued by official organizations in the non-producing countries within the EU. (Notice #176, Ministry of International Trade and Industry, March 31, 1995)