Taking into consideration all origin related obligations provided for in the trade regimes as well as international standards, particularly WCO guidelines, the Consultant achieved the following results:
Streamlined, simplified and documented processes which provide for among other things, effective:
Issuance of appropriate proofs of origin;
Registration and profiling of exporters;
Origin risk management;
Origin verifications;
Post clearance audit;
Advance origin rulings; and
Import and export origin clearance.
Improved infrastructure in place for the administration of rules of origin to operationalize the processes above including:
Capacity building,
Public awareness campaign, and
Stakeholder education.
Developed re-usable trade regimes outreach programme for all stakeholder groups;
Developed re-usable origin training programme for customs officials;
Trained customs officials on the Rules of Origin;
Educated stakeholder groups on Rules of Origin;
Produced analysis document on the positive and negative trade effects for Lesotho of the rules of origin applied to the SADC FTA, AGOA and SADC EU EPA; and Provided recommendations document on more appropriate Rules of Origin which could be applied to the SADC FTA, AGOA and SADC EU EPA with possible effects of this rules of origin on Lesotho’s exports.
