RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE WT/ACC/HRV/24
29July1996
ORGANIZATION(96-3010)
Original: English
ACCESSION OFCROATIA
Communication from Croatia
ThefollowinginformationonfuturepolicyonrulesoforiginhasbeenreceivedfromtheMinistry
ofEconomic Affairs oftheRepublic ofCroatia.
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NOTE ONFUTURE POLICY ONRULES OFORIGIN
According topresent regulations oftheRepublic ofCroatia, goods ofCroatian origin are
considered tobegoods entirely produced inCroatia. Thisapplies torawmaterials, minerals extracted
fromtheground, vegetable andforest produce, livestock, hunting andfishing goods, maritime fishing
goods, waste from industrial production andthelike.
Furthermore, goods ofCroatian origin areconsidered tobegoods produced inCroatia from
imported goods whose primary properties were changed intheproduction process, forinstance:
1) ifimported goods arelisted under onetariffnumber, thatistosayacustoms tariffitem, whereas
thenewly produced good isclassified under another tariff number orcustoms tariff item;
2) iftheadded value ontheimported goods amounts toaminimum 50%ofthenewly produced
goods.
TheTrade Law(Articles 25and26)stipulates thecriteria onwhich theregulations onrules
oforigin shallbebased. TheGovernment oftheRepublic ofCroatia isduetopassregulations which
willdefine astowhatisconsidered tobegoods ofCroatian origin, themanner ofissuing attestations
andcertifying thedocumentation enclosed withthegoods inexport andimport.
Legalcriteriatobeobservedintheprocessofpassingrulesoforiginshallbeentirelyharmonized
withtheAgreement onRules ofOrigin ofgoods andthecriteria stated inthisAgreement.
Inaddition, theLawdefines thatincases where tariff concession between Croatia andcertain
countries apply, therules oforigin shallberegulated inaccordance withthecustoms union entered
withtherespective country, onthebasis ofthefreetrade agreement.
Atpresent, theRepublic ofCroatia ispreparing newregulations onorigin. Theregulations
andexperience ofothermember countries oftheWorld Trade Organization, aswellastheachievements
andwork ontheharmonization ofrules oforigin within theWorld Customs Organization arebeing
carefully examined.
./.WT/ACC/HRV/24
Page2
TheGovernment oftheRepublic ofCroatia will,thus,onthebasisofthegeneral rulesoforigin
inforce, thecriteria setforthintheLawonTrade, aswellaspractice andrulesoforigin ofcountries
withthemost significant trade volume withtheRepublic ofCroatia, passnewregulations onrules
oforigin. Beside thegeneral ruleaccording towhich thecountry oforigin isconsidered thecountry
inwhich thegoods wereentirely produced, orifseveral countries were involved intheproduction,
thecountry inwhich thelastessential changes were made tothegoods, additional criteria on
establishment oforigin shallapply tocertain goods, suchastextile fabrics.
Taking intoconsideration theinterest oftheWTO member countries withrespect tothisissue,
Croatia willforward thedraftregulations totheWTO Secretariat, assoonastheyhavebeenformulated.