Ministry of Economic Affairs R.O.C.(Taiwan)
Laws and Regulations Retrieving System

Article 1
These regulations are established pursuant to Paragraph 4 of Article 20-2 of the Foreign Trade Act 
(hereinafter referred to as “the Act”).

Article 2
Certificates of Origin include Certificates of Origin for products originating in the Republic of China 
(hereinafter referred to as “the ROC”) and Certificates of Origin for products originating in foreign 
countries.
Certificates of Origin for products originating in foreign countries include Certificates of Origin for 
re-exported products and Certificates of Origin for products directly shipped from a third country to the 
importing country.
Enterprises that process foreign products in the ROC before re-exporting such products, but for which the 
processing does not meet the requirements to be labeled as products originating in the ROC, may apply for 
ROC Certificates of Processing.
The Bureau of Foreign Trade (hereinafter referred to as “the BOFT”) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs 
shall define the types and formats of application forms for Certificates of Origin and Certificates of 
Processing, and determine the information to be indicated thereon, in accordance with the nature and use 
of different products.

Article 3
Products for export originating in the ROC shall meet one of the criteria prescribed below:
1.They are wholly obtained or wholly produced in the ROC.
2.If the processing, manufacturing or materials of the products involve undertakings in the ROC and other 
countries or regions, the last substantial transformation shall be undergone in the ROC.
Products originating in the ROC may be awarded the MIT (Made in Taiwan) Smile Logo in accordance with the 
MIT Smile Logo Certification System; however, pre-requisites to granting of the MIT Smile Logo shall also 
abide by the criteria set forth in the preceding paragraph.

Article 4
The provision “products wholly obtained or wholly produced in the ROC” described in Subparagraph 1 of 
Paragraph 1 of Article 3 above refers to the following:
1.Mineral products excavated in the ROC;
2.Plant products harvested or collected in the ROC;
3.Live animals born and raised in the ROC;
4.Products obtained from live animals in the ROC;
5.Products obtained from hunting or fishing in the ROC;
6.Fish and other products obtained from the ocean by vessels registered in the ROC or products made from 
such materials;
7.Products excavated from the ocean floor or subsoil in areas that are outside ROC waters but where the 
ROC has the right to excavate;
8.Recycled materials from used goods, or surpluses and scraps generated during the process of 
manufacturing that are collected in the ROC;
9.Products produced in the ROC with the materials described in Subparagraphs 1 to 8.

Article 5
Unless otherwise defined by the BOFT, in compliance with the requirements of importing countries or in 
accordance with the nature of the products or specific regions, the substantial transformation referred 
to in Subparagraph 2 of Paragraph 1 of Article 3 shall mean either of the following:
1.After a raw material is processed or manufactured, the first six digits of the tariff number of the 
product is different from that of the raw material.
2.No change of tariff number as described in the preceding subparagraph happens after a raw material is 
processed or applied to produce a product, but the added value exceeds 35% or the product is produced 
through a specific production process that the BOFT has announced as a significant production process.
The added value described in the aforementioned Subparagraph 2 shall be calculated by the following 
formula:[Export price of product (FOB) － prices of directly and indirectly imported raw materials and 
components (CIF)] ÷ [Export price of product (FOB)]
The following procedures shall not be considered substantial transformation:
1.Preservation required for transportation or storage;
2.Categorization, grading, sub-packing, packaging, additional marking or re-labeling required for 
marketing or shipping purposes;
3.Assembling or mixing that does not create significant characteristic differences between the final 
product and the products used for assembling or mixing;
4.Processing operations involving simple cutting, bonding or assembling;
5.Testing, simple drying, dilution, and concentration/inspissation procedures that do not change the 
nature of the product.

Article 6
The place of origin on the Certificate of Origin for re-exported products shall be the country of origin 
indicated on one of the following documents:
1.The Certificate of Origin from the country of origin; or
2.The photocopy of the original import declaration.
The place of origin on the Certificate of Origin for products directly shipped from a third country to 
the importing country shall be the country of origin indicated on the Certificate of Origin from the 
country of origin.

Article 7
Foundations, industrial organizations, business organizations, farmers’ associations, fishermen’s 
associations, provincial or higher-level agriculture cooperatives, or provincial or higher-level 
agricultural production and marketing associations commissioned by the BOFT to issue Certificates of 
Origin or Certificates of Processing in accordance with Paragraph 1 or 2 of Article 20-2 of the Act shall 
meet the following requirements:
1.Foundations
(1)Foundations engaging in economic activities under the supervision of the Ministry of Economic Affairs 
(hereafter referred to as “the MOEA”).
(2)Foundations with articles of endowment that accept commission by the government to issue certificates 
as needed by industries.
2.Industrial and business organizations
(1)Rated by the competent authority with Level A performance over the past two years or certified by the 
competent authority as conducting normal operations over the past two years.
(2)No record during the previous year by the BOFT to suspend commissioning to issue Certificates of 
Origin or Certificates of Processing for six months or to terminate such commissioning.
3.Farmers’ Associations
(1)County (city) or higher-level farmers’ associations.
(2)Rated by the competent authority with Level A performance over the past two years or certified by the 
competent authority as conducting normal operations over the past two years.
(3)Having articles of associations that accept commission by the government or gain special approval from 
the competent authority to handle specific affairs.
(4)No record during the previous year by the BOFT to suspend commissioning to issue Certificates of 
Origin or Certificates of Processing for six months or to terminate such commissioning.
4.Fishermen’s associations, provincial or higher-level agricultural cooperatives, or provincial or 
higher-level agricultural production and marketing associations
(1)Rated by the competent authority with Level A performance over the past two years or certified by the 
competent authority as conducting normal operations over the past two years.
(2)Having articles of associations that accept commission by the government or gain special approval from 
the competent authority to handle specific affairs.
(3)No record during the previous year by the BOFT to suspend commissioning to issue Certificates of 
Origin or Certificates of Processing for six months or to terminate such commissioning.

Article 8
Industrial organizations, business organizations, farmers’ associations, fishermen’s associations, 
provincial or higher-level agriculture cooperatives, or provincial or higher-level agricultural 
production and marketing associations that meet the requirements specified in the preceding Article may 
apply with the BOFT during the period announced by the BOFT for authorization to issue the Special 
Certificates of Origin prescribed in the proviso in Paragraph 2 of Article 20-2 of the Act. However, the 
BOFT may refuse authorization under any one of the following circumstances:
1.The application does not comply with international treaties or agreements, regulations of international 
organizations or requirements specified by foreign governments.
2.An issuing body that is applying for renewal of authorization has been suspended from issuing 
Certificates of Origin during the previous year.
3.An issuing body did not issue any Certificates of Origin during the previous year.
4.It has been less than one year since the applicant’s authorization to issue Certificates of Origin was 
repealed.
An issuing body authorized to issue Certificates of Origin shall submit its official seal that will be 
used to stamp Certificates of Origin for review by the BOFT. The same procedure shall apply when seals 
are changed.
An issuing body suspended by the BOFT from issuing Special Certificates of Origin in accordance with 
Paragraph 3, Article 28 of the Act shall reapply for permission to issue special Certificates of Origin 
according to Paragraph 1 of the same Article if it wishes to resume the authority to issue special 
Certificates of Origin when the suspension period expires.

Article 9
Under any of the following circumstances, the BOFT may revoke authorization given according to Paragraph 
1 of the preceding Article:
1.An issuing body issued fewer than 60 Special Certificates of Origin in the previous year.
2.An issuing body applies for termination of authorization to issue Special Certificates of Origin.
3.An issuing body is found in violation of these regulations or regulations governing issuance of Special 
Certificates of Origin and fails to make improvements within the period given.
Revocation of authorization for an industrial organization as described in Subparagraph 1 of the 
preceding Paragraph may be nullified if such an organization is able to provide evidence as proof that it 
has issued more than 50 Special Certificates of Origin, and the BOFT confirms that the products in 
question do comply with the characteristics of the industry and that the certificates have been issued to 
members of the organization.

Article 10
Before issuing Certificates of Origin or Certificates of Processing in accordance with Paragraph 1 or 2 
of Article 20-2 of the Act, foundations, industrial organizations, business organizations, provincial or 
higher-level agricultural cooperatives, or provincial or high-level agricultural production and marketing 
associations are required to submit the following documents to the BOFT for review and subsequent 
commission or reference:
1.Proof of business registration and compliance with the requirements specified in Article 7.
2.Samples of the issuing body’s seal to be stamped on Certificates of Origin and Certificates of 
Processing and the personal seal of the person responsible for issuance. Also, proof of remuneration to 
the person responsible for issuance or his/her Labor Insurance coverage.
3.A list of software and hardware equipment specified by the BOFT as required for issuance of 
Certificates of Origin or Certificates of Processing.
4.The application form for a Certificate of Origin or Certificate of Processing to be submitted via the 
online operating system.
Any change of the issuing body’s seal that is to be stamped on Certificates of Origin or Certificates of 
Processing or the personal seal of the person responsible for issuance shall be filed with the BOFT in 
advance.

Article 11
An applicant for a Certificate of Origin or Certificate of Processing (hereinafter referred to as “the 
applicant”) shall be the exporter indicated on the export declaration unless an exception approved by 
the BOFT has been obtained.
If the exporter on the Certificate of Origin or Certificate of Processing is a third party other than the 
applicant on the Certificate of Origin or Certificate of Processing or the buyer indicated on the export 
declaration, in addition to following the relevant procedures set forth in these regulations, the 
applicant shall also submit photocopies of documents that prove the transaction between the applicant and 
the third party or documents indicating that the BOFT has given special approval.
The applicant for a Certificate of Origin for products directly shipped from a third country to the 
importing country shall be referred to as the domestic seller.

Article 12
Unless approved by the BOFT, applicants and issuing bodies shall transmit the corresponding electronic 
data via the BOFT’s online operating system for applications for Certificates of Origin and Certificates 
of Processing (hereinafter referred to as “the operating system”) to apply for and issue Certificates 
of Origin or Certificates of Processing. However, the applicant may apply in writing if the computer 
system of the BOFT is out of order. The BOFT shall announce procedures for hard copy applications 
separately.

Article 13
The applicant shall adopt either of the following means to transmit electronic data as described in the 
preceding Article:
1.Access the BOFT website, log in and transmit the data required to apply for a Certificate of Origin or 
Certificate of Processing; or
2.Transmit the data required to apply for a Certificate of Origin or Certificate of Processing through 
the CPT Single Window.

Article 14
Except for applicants with an IC card issued by MOEA, the applicant is required to set up a user code and 
password through the BOFT by filing an application on the BOFT website before applying for a Certificate 
of Origin or Certificate of Processing via the operating system.
If the applicant does not meet the requirement for importer/exporter, relevant documents shall be submitted.

Article 15
Once an application for the Certificate of Origin or Certificate of Processing is submitted to an issuing 
body, the applicant may not revise the contents.
When an application for the Certificate of Origin or Certificate of Processing is filed online, it shall 
be considered as effectively submitted once the operating system records of having received it.
When an application for the Certificate of Origin or Certificate of Processing is recorded as approved on 
the operating system, it shall be considered effectively as approved; the applicant may request the body 
to print out the Certificate of Origin or Certificate of Processing, or request the issuing body to 
provide the electronic data of the Certificate of Origin or Certificate of Processing for the use of a 
customs declaration service provider to process cross-border shipment procedures.
Each issuing body shall issue no more than three original copies of each Certificate of Origin and no 
more than six duplicate copies. The applicant may provide reasons and apply for more copies if needed. 
Under such circumstances, the issuing body may issue no more than five original copies and no more than 
ten duplicate copies.
Every Certificate of Origin or Certificate of Processing shall carry the seal of the issuing body and the 
personal seal of the person responsible for the issuance to be effective.

Article 16
Those applications for Certificates of Origin with the ROC as the place of origin, besides complying with 
Paragraph 1 of Article 21, shall be filed after custom clearance. Each application shall be submitted to 
an issuing body along with the following documents, but information that can be accessed through the 
operating system need not be provided:
1.The application.
2.The export declaration or other export documents; photocopies of the export declaration is not required 
for products specified in Subparagraph 6 or 7 of Article 4 to be sold outside the country, but other 
export documents are still required.
3.Other required documents as stipulated in related regulations.

Article 17
Applications for Certificates of Origin for re-exported products, besides complying with Paragraph 1 of 
Article 21, shall be filed after customs clearance. Each application shall be submitted along with the 
following documents, but information that can be accessed through the operating system need not be 
provided:
1.The application.
2.The Certificate of Origin or the original import declaration from the country of origin.
3.The export declaration.
4.Other required documents as stipulated in related regulations.
If either of the documents specified in Subparagraph 2 of the preceding Paragraph is unavailable, the 
applicant may submit a duplicate of the export declaration in place of it as proof of exportation 
indicated in the Product Description column or the Remark Column, or submit the export declaration with 
the country of origin indicated in the Product Name column obtained via the operating system.

Article 18
Applications for Certificates of Origin for products directly shipped from a third country to the 
importing country shall be submitted along with the following documents, but information that can be 
accessed through the operating system need not be provided.
1.The application.
2.A photocopy of the Certificate of Origin from the country of origin or the third country.
3.A photocopy of the bill of lading from the third country or photocopies of shipping documents with 
importing or exporting location.
4.Other required documents as stipulated in related regulations.

Article 19
Applications for Certificates of Origin for re-exported products transshipped to another country from a 
port in the ROC shall be filed after customs clearance. Each application shall be submitted along with 
the following documents, but information that can be accessed through the operating system need not be 
provided:
1.The application.
2.The transshipment permit from Customs.
3.The Certificate of Origin from the original exporting country.
4.Other related documents specially approved by the BOFT.

Article 20
Applications for Certificates of Processing, besides complying with Paragraph 1 of Article 21, shall be 
filed after customs clearance. Each application shall be submitted along with the following documents, 
but information that can be accessed through the operating system need not be provided:
1.The application.
2.The Certificate of Origin from the country of origin or the original import declaration.
3.The export declaration or other related export documents.

Article 21
Under any of the following circumstances, the applicant may apply for a Certificate of Origin with the 
ROC as country of origin, a Certificate of Origin with a foreign country as the place of origin, or a 
Certificate of Processing before customs clearance:
1.The Certificate of Origin or Certificate of Processing are to be submitted if it is so requested by the 
government of the importing country, in order to apply for import permits or customs clearance.
2.The Certificate of Origin or Certificate of Processing shall accompany the products being shipped; 
products that have been declared to Customs and placed in a warehouse, without an export declaration 
being previously released; or for shipment that takes less than three days.
3.The applicant has applied to Customs according to the Regulations Governing the Certification and 
Management of the Authorized Economic Operators and obtained the approval to be an authorized economic 
operator.
4.Specific products announced by the BOFT.
The application described in the preceding paragraph shall be submitted to the issuing body along with 
the following documents, but information that can be accessed through the operating system, or that the 
issuing body can access on the internet need not be provided:
1.The application.
2.Photocopies of the exporter/importer’s registration, company registration and business registration.
3.Related documents that comply with the conditions specified in the preceding Paragraph.
4.A photocopy of the commercial receipt or transaction contract.
5.The Certificate of Origin or a photocopy of the original import declaration from the country of origin 
is required if the application is for a Certificate of Origin for re-exported products or for a 
Certificate of Processing.
6.Other required documents as stipulated in related regulations.
The applicant shall provide the export declaration number(s) and the product item(s) as released by the Customs via the operating system within 180 days after issuance of the Certificate of Origin or Certificate of Processing described in the preceding Paragraph or within the period announced by the BOFT, or submit relevant export documents to the original issuing body to apply for extension of the completion process.
The applications for extension of the completion process described in the preceding paragraph exceeding 180 days shall attach the related documents specially approved by the BOFT.

Article 22
If the applicant is found to be in one of the following situations, the issuing body may reject the 
application described in the preceding Article:
1.Applicants who have their importer/exporter registration revoked, repealed or canceled, or their export 
operations suspended by the BOFT;
2.Applications who Failing to apply for the completion process within 30 days or the period announced by 
the BOFT as described in the preceding Article;
3.Products have already cleared customs and have been released.

Article 23
The applicant shall submit certified documents to apply for a Certificate of Origin or Certificate of 
Processing in accordance with Articles 16 to 20 within 180 days after the products are released by 
Customs, but information that can be accessed through the operating system need not be provided.
If the application described in Paragraph 1 is not filed within 180 days after the products are released 
by Customs, the applicant shall submit a duplicate of the export declaration as proof of exportation 
issued by Customs in order to apply to the BOFT for special approval, but information that can be 
accessed through the operating system need not be provided.
Applications for Certificates of Origin or Certificates of Processing for different batches of goods 
included in the same export declaration shall be filed within 15 days after the first certificate is 
obtained unless the BOFT has given special approval.

Article 24
An application for cancellation or cancellation and renewal of Certificate of Origin or Certificate of 
Processing shall be submitted to the original issuing body along with the entire copy of the original 
Certificate of Origin or Certificate of Processing that had been issued. If the original copy is not 
available, the applicant shall submit documents indicating that the BOFT has given special approval.
A Certificate of Origin or Certificate of Processing of the same certificate number shall be issued to 
applicants applying for certificate cancellation and renewal as described in the preceding Paragraph 
unless the application is for a different type of certificate.
Applications for reissuance of Certificate of Origin or Certificate of Processing due to loss of the 
original certificate shall be filed with the original issuing body along with explanatory information. 
Applications for reissuance due to loss of the reissued certificate shall be submitted along with 
documents proving that the BOFT has given special approval.
Applications for cancellation, cancellation and renewal or reissuance of Certificate of Origin or 
Certificate of Processing shall be filed within 180 days after issuance of the original certificate.

Article 25
The content of any Certificate of Origin or Certificate of Processing may not be altered; any alteration 
shall render the certificate invalid.

Article 26
Issuing bodies shall keep confidential the information provide by applicants.
Starting from the date of issuance, issuing bodies shall retain the written information provided by each 
applicant for three years in case the BOFT needs to access and inspect such information. The information 
shall be destroyed when the three-year period expires.
Starting from the date of issuance, electronic information with regard to Certificates of Origin or 
Certificates of Processing shall be retained for five years and deleted when the five-year period 
expires.

Article 27
The BOFT may send its staff to audit the operations for issuing certificates by the issuing bodies at any 
time it chooses.
Issuing bodies that discover that the applicant has provided false information to apply for a Certificate 
of Origin or Certificate of Processing or have doubts about the recognition of the place of origin shall 
report to the BOFT.

Article 28
The BOFT may request the applicant to provide documents to prove the sources of products indicated on the 
Certificate of Origin or execution of processing indicated on the Certificate of Processing to confirm 
the place of origin or processing.
The applicant shall retain the documents described in the preceding Paragraph for five years.

Article 29
Issuing bodies may charge a NT$250 fee for issuance, cancellation and renewal, and reissuance of each 
Certificate of Origin or Certificate of Processing.
When issuing more than three original copies and six duplicate copies of the Certificate of Origin or 
Certificate of Processing to the applicant, the issuing body may charge a NT$50 fee for each extra copy.

Article 30
Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 shall not apply in situations where there are 
relevant regulations set forth in related international treaties, pacts, agreements or documents 
established in accordance with international treaties, pacts or agreements. If there are no relevant 
regulations in related international treaties, pacts, agreements or documents established in accordance 
with international treaties, pacts or agreements, the provisions in these regulations shall apply.

Article 31
The articles of these regulations shall take effect on August 1, 2016.
The articles of these regulations which were amended on April 3, 2018 shall take effect on April 10, 2018.