Export documents: current developments

Lower import duties on products from the US

From 1 July 2026, you will pay lower import duties on certain US products. These include industrial products, certain agricultural products and seafood. You can read more about this on the Website of the Customs Administration of the Netherlands (in Dutch). For example, you can find out about the rules for determining origin and what proof of origin you need to provide.

Important to know

The following two points are particularly important for you:

1. Determining US origin

Has the US product been processed? To determine US origin, you should first consult Annex 22-01 of the Delegated Regulation on the GSP. This can be found on page 279. There you can read, for certain products, what processing must have been carried out for the product to be considered of US origin. Is your product not listed there? Then use the rules set out in the Table of list rules.

2. Providing supporting documentation

There is no standardised supporting documentation for US origin. Consequently, proving US origin to the Customs Administration of the Netherlands can sometimes be difficult. The Customs Administration of the Netherlands may request evidence during checks. This evidence must convince the Customs Administration of the Netherlands that the imported product is of US origin. Ask your supplier to help you with supporting documents. Examples include a cultivation certificate from a fruit grower or a catch certificate from a prawn fisherman. The Customs Administration of the Netherlands will assess whether the supporting documents are sufficient.

Legalisation of a lease declaration for travel abroad

Are you travelling abroad in someone else’s car? In that case, you may need a legalised power of attorney. This power of attorney is also known as a lease declaration. You will need a lease declaration in Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Algeria.

Example

You run a construction company with its own fleet of vehicles. One of your employees is going on holiday to Morocco in a company car. Your employee needs a lease declaration for this.

Here’s how to go about it:

Contact the consulate or embassy (in Dutch) of the country where the car will be used. Draw up the power of attorney on your own letterhead. It must be signed by someone in your company who is authorised to sign on your behalf.

Applying digitally

The owner of the car submits the legalisation application digitally via KVK. As a private individual, you cannot do this yourself. A visa service or customs agent can arrange this digital application. You can find contact details online using the search terms: ‘consular legalisation’, ‘embassy legalisation’, or ‘customs agents’. Enquire in advance about the options and costs.

EU–Mercosur: new trade agreement

The EU has signed a new trade agreement with the Mercosur countries. Mercosur is an economic partnership between Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. The trade agreement will make doing business with Mercosur countries easier and cheaper. From 1 May 2026, you will pay lower import duties on imports and exports. This only applies if the products are of preferential origin. You will need a statement of origin for this. This is a declaration on the invoice or other commercial document. Use the sample text for a statement of origin. You can find the rules for preferential origin in the trade agreement with Mercosur.

Trade benefits only with a valid declaration

If the statement of origin is incorrect or incomplete, you will not get a reduction in import duties. So provide good evidence of preferential origin. For example, with a preferential supplier’s declaration. Or with information about your own production process if you manufacture the products yourself. You can have a supplier’s declaration checked by KVK via Genesis certification.

You can find more information about the EU Mercosur Agreement on the RVO website (in Dutch)

Digital ATA Carnet

You use an ATA Carnet for goods that you take to a country outside the EU and back again. For most countries where this document is used, a paper ATA Carnet is required. However, from 1 June 2026, the ATA Carnet for the United Kingdom, Norway, and Switzerland will be entirely digital. You will no longer need a paper document for these countries. It is likely that other countries will also go 100% digital in the near future.

More information about the ATA Carnet.

Printing Certificate of Origin on blank paper

You can print a Certificate of Origin (CVO) on blank paper. You no longer need pre-printed coloured forms. Several businesses in the Netherlands are already working this way. Foreign organisations accept the forms without any problems.

At present, almost three-quarters of the CVOs issued by the KVK are printed on plain paper. KVK is contacting customers who do not yet print their CVOs on plain paper. You can also contact them yourself.

How it works

You request your CVOs digitally from KVK. This is done in the same way as before. Once your request has been approved, you will receive a PDF file containing all the information from the CVO. The difference is that the standard layout of the CVO form is now also included in the PDF. The Certificate of Origin is valid with the digital signature and the KVK issue number. You can check this on the ICC Verification platform. There is a QR code on the CVO that allows you to easily verify this.

Advantages

Printing on blank paper has the following advantages:

• You can forward the PDF file to customers, organisations, etc.
• Everyone can print the Certificate of Origin themselves. Also your foreign customers. This will help prevent dpcuments from getting lost in the post or on delivery.
• There is no longer any need to scan the printed CVO.
• You do not need a separate printer or printer tray.
• It saves costs, because you do not use pre-printed Certificates of Origin.

First contact KVK

Would you also like to print CVOs on blank paper? KVK will first adjust the settings for printing CVOs for you. Please contact the Export Documents department for this.

• Email: Exportdocumenten regio West
  Telephone: 088 585 18 87
• Email: Exportdocumenten regio Oost/Zuid
  Telephone: 088 585 18 89

Printing on blank paper only applies to CVOs. For EUR.1 certificates, you must continue to use pre-printed forms.