Certificate of Origin (COO)

What is Certificate of Origin (COO)?

A Certificate of Origin (COO) is an official document that certifies the country of origin of goods being exported. Under the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992 (FTDR Act), and the Customs Act, 1962, the COO establishes that exported products originate from India and comply with the rules of origin applicable under bilateral or multilateral trade agreements. This document is mandatory for many export shipments, particularly for claiming preferential tariff treatment under Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) like India-ASEAN, India-Japan, CEPA (UAE), and other regional agreements notified by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

The COO serves as proof of origin to importing countries and is essential for customs clearance at the destination. It certifies that the goods have undergone sufficient manufacturing or processing in India to qualify as Indian-origin products. The certificate is issued by authorized Export Promotion Councils (EPCs), chamber of commerce organizations, and registered issuing authorities recognized by the DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade).