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Economy

Morocco Streamlines Export Procedures with Online Issuance of Certificates of Origin for African Continental Free Trade Area

Thursday 20 June 2024 - 14:50

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In a pioneering move set to revolutionize Morocco's trade relations with its African counterparts, the Customs and Indirect Tax Administration (ADII) has announced the digitalization of the application process for certificates of origin for Moroccan products destined for export to countries within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Effective June 24, 2023, this initiative marks a significant stride towards enhancing operational efficiency and bolstering Morocco's competitiveness in the burgeoning African market.

Recognizing the imperative of aligning with the customs provisions outlined in the AfCFTA agreement, which stipulates that originating products exchanged within the free trade area must be accompanied by a certificate of origin conforming to the conventional model, the ADII has proactively embraced the digital transformation of this critical process. In a circular scheduled to take effect on June 24, the administration announced the dematerialization of certificate of origin applications for Moroccan exports destined for AfCFTA member states, mirroring the streamlined procedures already in place for preferential trade agreements forged by Morocco with other partner nations.

"Accordingly, exporters or their authorized representatives are required to submit their applications through the BADR system concurrently with the establishment of the export declaration, adhering to the standard procedure," the Customs Administration states. "The requisite information available within the export declaration will be automatically inserted, while any missing data can be selected from drop-down menus or manually entered in French."

To ensure seamless implementation, the ADII has made available updated user guides detailing the operational procedures for the various functionalities pertaining to the dematerialized application process for the certificate of origin. These comprehensive resources can be accessed through the administration's official websites and intranet platforms.

While the complete digitalization of the certificate issuance procedure is underway, the data entered into the system will be printed on the original certificate following the conventional model prescribed by the agreement. This document must be signed by the exporter or their authorized representative and presented to the export office for routine verification and, where applicable, endorsement before being validated within the system.

This pioneering initiative follows the ADII's issuance of a circular in January 2023, outlining the customs implementation of the AfCFTA agreement. The landmark pact, signed in Kigali on March 21, 2018, entered into force on May 30, 2019, with Morocco depositing its instruments of ratification with the African Union Commission on April 18, 2022.

As Morocco fortifies its economic ties with its African partners through the AfCFTA, this digital transformation of export procedures not only streamlines operations but also solidifies the nation's commitment to fostering an enabling environment for seamless trade and economic cooperation across the continent.