Rule 27 - Procedure for Verification - Customs Tariff (Determination of Origin of Goods under the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement) Rules, 2022

27. Procedure for Verification.- (1) Any request for information made by the customs administration of the importing Party pursuant to rule 26 shall be in accordance with the following procedures, namely:- (a) if requested, the issuing body or authority, as appropriate, of the exporting Party shall provide the following information within ninety days,- (i) a confirmation pertaining to the authenticity or otherwise of the Certificate of Origin along with a copy of the minimum required information; and (ii) if the request is on the grounds of suspicion of the accuracy of the determination of origin of the good, this period can be extended for a period of no more than sixty days; (b) if the importing Party is not satisfied with the verification undertaken in accordance with clause (a) to (c) of sub-rule (1) of rule 26, it may, under exceptional circumstances, request the exporter or producer for a verification visit. The importing Party shall notify in writing the exporter or producer whose premises are to be visited, the issuing body or authority, the customs administration of the exporting Party and the importer of its intention to conduct the verification visit. (2) The importing Party shall obtain the written consent of the exporter or producer whose premises are to be visited. When a written consent from the exporter or producer is not received within thirty days of receipt of the written request, the importing Party may deny preferential treatment on goods subject to the verification visit. (3) The written notification shall include the name of the exporter or producer whose premises are to be visited, the proposed date and time of visit, the purpose for the visit, reference to the goods subjected to verification, and a list of officials participating and their designations. (4) The exporter or producer shall identify two or more independent witnesses to be present during the verification visit. (5) The importing Party conducting the verification visit shall provide the exporter or producer as well as the issuing body or authority of the exporting Party with a written determination of whether the good qualifies as an originating good. (6) The verification visit process including the actual visit and notification of written determination of the origin of the good shall be completed within a maximum period of six months from the date when the verification visit was conducted. Completion of verification procedure (7) The customs administration of the importing Party shall,- (a) endeavour to make a determination following a verification as expeditiously as possible and in accordance with its laws and regulations; and (b) provide the importer with a written determination of whether the good is originating that includes the basis for the determination.