GUIDE TO: Completing EUR.1 certificates
If your business is currently selling to or planning to sell to Europe, you may be eligible to receive EUR.1 movement certificates.
These certificates state that the exported goods were either wholly or partly manufactured in South Africa. A EUR.1 certificate gives your business a great competitive advantage as there is little or no import duty charged on goods in countries that accepts EUR.1 certificates. This lowers the buyer’s costs and makes your product look more attractive.
Countries that accept EUR.1 certificates
EUR.1 certificates are accepted in European countries that have trade agreements with South Africa. There are currently 3 European trade agreement to which EUR.1 certificates apply:
The SADC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement
All European Union (EU) members form part of this agreement, namely:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Czech Republic, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden
The SACU-EFTA Free trade agreement
All members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) form part of this agreement, namely:
Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland
The SACUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement
This is a roll-over agreement based on the SADC-EU FTA that SACU and the United Kingdom (UK) entered into after they left the European Union. It therefore only applies to exports to the UK.
Using a EUR.1 certificate
Trading with EUR.1 certificates means you need to fill in one and send it with each export shipment that goes to a relevant European country. Each section of the EUR.1 certificate is numbered. How to complete each section is explained here. To view a EUR.1 certificate click here or refer to the image below.
To order EUR.1 certificates you must be registered as an exporter under at least one of these Trade Agreements in accordance of where you are exporting to. If you already have an import export license but you are not registered to the relevant trade agreement for you export, your existing export registration must first be amended.
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The sections of a SADC certificate
Section 1: The exporter’s name and address
Section 2: This will be South Africa and the destination country
Section 3: The buyer’s name and address
Section 4: Official (Alpha-2) abbreviation for South Africa (ZA)
Section 5: Official (Alpha-2) abbreviation for the destination country. Click here for an index.
Section 6: This section is optional. You can list the mode of transport (road/sea/air), the departure and destination cities and/or the transport vessel number here. For example “Roadfreight from Cape Town to Maputo” or “Sea freight, MSC Marina V 123”.
Section 7: The exporter may include his own additional comments or internal reference number here.
Section 8: Provide a basic description of the cargo and how it is packed. Are there any marks on the packaging or is there a container number? If not state “no marks” An example would be “1000 cartons (50cm x 50cm x 50cm) of dog food in a 1x6metre container”.
Section 9: This is the total weight including packaging material.
Section 10: This section is optional. Give the number and date of the commercial invoice accompanying your cargo.
Section 11: For official use, leave this blank
Section 12: Sign and date
Back Page: Turn over your EUR.1 certificate and complete the back page by filling in a brief description of how the goods were manufactured and why they are of South African origin.
For example: “Manufactured in a South African factory using South African raw materials”. Also list any supporting documents that you may supply. The supporting documents are not compulsory and may include items such as a manufacturer’s declaration. The back page also needs to be signed and dated.
Click here for an example of a completed EUR.1 certificate.
Making use of a EUR.1 certificate is one simple way to give your products an edge when competing in Europe. More information on trade agreements that South Africa is part of is available here.
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