Two new digital trade services launched in the origin area

A new online tool for smoother customs checks

ICC World Chambers Federation is proud to announce the launch of its new online certifying tool, Genesis. Set to last until the end of the year, the pilot project will involve eight participating champion chambers: Netherlands Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Basel Chamber of Commerce in Switzerland as well as five chambers in United Kingdom: British Chambers of Commerce, London Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and Business West (Bristol Chamber of Commerce).

Genesis is a digital tool initiated by ICC to verify exporters’ self-certification. It enables exporters to apply online to their related chamber of commerce to obtain the certification of their origin statement on invoice declarations, making them more trustworthy. By offering a reliable verifying tool to exporters but also to importers and customs authorities, Genesis aims to reduce fraud risks and costs, and to facilitate smoother customs checks. Exporters in the Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland and UK are invited to contact their chambers should they want their self-certification to be certified.

At the end of this initial pilot project, ICC will assess and analyse its effectiveness as a potential online solution to ensuring reliability of exporters self-certification online. The project will then be opened to the entire ICC World Chambers Federation community.

A revamped website for more transparent verification processes

In line with its goal of expanding its catalogue of digital trade services offered in the rules of origin area, ICC World Chambers Federation has also upgraded its Certificate of Origin (CO) verification website, which allows chambers of commerce and customs authorities to confirm the authenticity and validity of COs issued by the accredited chambers located in the 31 participating countries of the International CO Accreditation Chain.

Over the years, the number of users of ICC’s CO verification website has grown significantly and ICC considered necessary to upgrade its platform to a more modern, secure and innovative interface. The newly revamped website will now display additional information, such as a description of the goods and the countries of origin and destination, and enable customs authorities to review the complete CO form, by being redirected to the issuing chamber’s system or its national verification website.

The option of scanning the QR code on the CO instead of manually inputting the information has also been added to the new website.

Martin Van der Weide, Chair of the ICC WCF International CO Council, said: “Certificates of Origin are increasingly dematerialised. It is therefore crucial to have an instrument that gives customs authorities the possibility to check the authenticity of COs. I am extremely proud that the recent upgrade of our verification website gives the option to see the whole content of the CO issued by an ICC accredited chamber of commerce. This key addition will undoubtedly contribute to making ICC’s website the go-to instrument for customs worldwide.”

Through these two innovative digital projects, ICC is expanding its catalogue of digital trade services offered in the rules of origin area, and advancing its global campaign of promoting international trade by making technology work for all.