RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/RO/W/46
5 October 1999
(99-4155)
Committee on Rules of Origin Original:  English
HARMONIZATION OF RULES OF ORIGIN
Proposition by Mauritius
The following communication, dated 30 September 1999, has been received from the
Permanent Mission of Mauritius, containing Mauritius' views and proposals in the area of work
relating to the architecture and the product-specific rules.
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Options selected are:
(i) Chapters 25-27
Option A for Issue No. 1 and Option B for Issue No. 7 (ii) Chapters 44-49
Option A
(The details of the options are not being provided here as they are too long).
HS Code Number Description of goods Origin criteria
Ex Chapter 61(b)
(ex-61.01 through ex-61-15)Goods of heading 61.01 through
61.15 assembled from parts
knitted or crocheted to shapeThe country of origin of the
goods of this split chapter is the
country in which the parts ofthese goods have been knitted
or crocheted to shape
Ex Chapter 61(c)
(ex-61.01 through ex-61.15)Goods of heading 61.01 through
61.15 assembled from parts toshapeCC provided that the parts of
these goods are both cut toshape and sewn or otherwise
assembled in the country
claiming origin
Ex Chapter 61(d)
(ex-6117.10, ex-6117.80)Embroidered flat products
(handkerchiefs, shawls, scarves,
mufflers, mantillas, veils and
the like)[Change from ex Chapter 61(e)]G/RO/W/46
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HS Code Number Description of goods Origin criteria
Ex Chapter 61(e)
(ex-6117.10, ex-6117.80)Other flat products (other
handkerchiefs, shawls, scarves,
mufflers, mantillas, veils andthe like)(The country of origin of the
goods of this split chapter shall
be the country in which thegoods are produced from fabric)
Ex Chapter 61(f)
(ex-61-16, ex-6117.20,
ex-6117.80)Accessories assembled from
parts knitted or crocheted to
shape (ties, bow ties, cravats,
gloves, mittens, mitts, muffs,
headbands and the like)(Change to goods of this split
chapter provided that the goods
are assembled in a single
country in accordance with
Chapter Note/Option 1)
Ex Chapter 61(g)
(ex-61-16, ex-6116.20,
ex-6117.80)Accessories assembled from
parts cut to shape (ties, bow
ties, cravats, gloves, mittens,
mitts, muffs, headbands and thelike)(Change to goods of this split
chapter provided that the goods
are assembled in a single
country in accordance withChapter Note/Option 2)
Ex Chapter 61(h)
(ex-6117.90)Parts assembled from
components(Change from ex Chapter 61(i)
or (j))
Ex Chapter 61(j)
(ex-61.01 through ex-61.17)Other, including individual
parts other than assembled
parts:  collection of parts or
sub-assemblies(The country of origin of the
goods of this split chapter shall
be the country in which the
goods are produced from fabric)
Ex Chapter 62(a)
(ex-62.01 through ex-62.12)Goods of heading 62.01 through
62.12 assembled from parts,
other than diapers of heading
62.09(Change to goods of this split
chapter provided that the goods
are assembled in a single
country in accordance with
Chapter Note 1/Option 2)
OR
(CC provided that the parts of
these goods are both cut to
shape and sewn or otherwiseassembled in the country
claiming origin)
Ex Chapter 62(b)
(ex-62.09)Diapers of heading 62.09 (The country of origin of the
goods of this split chapter shallbe the country of origin of the
fabric)
Ex Chapter 62(c)
(ex-62.13, ex-62.14,ex-6217.10)Embroidered flat products
(handkerchiefs, shawls, scarves,mufflers, mantillas, veils and
the like)(Change from ex Chapter 62(d))G/RO/W/46
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HS Code Number Description of goods Origin criteria
Ex Chapter 62(d)
(ex-62.13, ex-62-14,
ex-6217.10)Other flat products (other
handkerchiefs, shawls, scarves,
mufflers, mantillas, veils andthe like)(The country of origin of the
goods of this split chapter shall
be the country in which thegoods are produced from fabric)
Ex Chapter 62(e)
(ex-62.15, ex-62.16,
ex-6217.10)Accessories assembled from
parts (ties, bow ties, cravats,
gloves, mittens, mitts, muffs,
headbands and the like)(Change to goods of this split
chapter provided that the goods
are assembled in a single
country in accordance with
Chapter Note 1/Option 2)
OR
(CC provided that the parts of
these goods are both cut to
shape and sewn or otherwiseassembled in the country
claiming origin)
Ex Chapter 62(f)
(ex-6217.90)Parts assembled from
components(The country of origin of the
goods of this split chapter shallbe the country in which the
goods are produced from fabric)
Ex Chapter 62(g)
(ex-62.01 through ex-62.17)Other, including individual
parts' other than assembledparts, collection of parts or
sub-assemblies, embroideredThe country of origin of the
unassembled goods of this splitchapter is the country of origin
of the fabrics
ORThe country of origin of the
assembled goods of this splitchapter is the country in which
they are assembled
Ex Chapter 62(h)
(ex-62.01 through ex-62.17)Other, including individual
parts other than assembledparts, collection of parts or
sub-assembliesThe country of origin of the
assembled goods of this splitchapter is the country in which
they are assembled
63.01 Blankets and travelling rugs [CTH]
63.02 Bed linen, table linen, toilet
linen and kitchen linen[CTH]
63.03 Curtains (including drapes) and
interior blinds, curtain or bedvalances[CTH]G/RO/W/46
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HS Code Number Description of goods Origin criteria
63.04 Other furnishing articles,
excluding those of heading No.
94.04[CTH]
63.05 Sacks and bags, of a kind used
for the packing of goods[CTH]
63.06 Tarpaulins, awning and
sunblinds, tents for boats,
sailboards or landcraft;
camping goods[CTH]
6307.10 Floor-cloths, dishcloths, dusters
and similar cleaning cloths[CTH]
6307.20 Life-jackets and life-belts [CTH]
63.08 Sets consisting of woven fabric
and yarn, whether or not with
accessories, for making up into
rugs, tapestries, embroideredtablecloths or serviettes, or
similar textiles articles put up in
packings for retail sale[CTH]
63.10 Used or new rags, scrap twine,
cordage, rope and cables and
worn out articles of twine,
cordage, rope or cables, of
textiles materialsThe country of origin of the
goods of this heading shall be
the country in which the goods
were last collected or derived
from manufacturing or
processing operations or from
consumption
(iii)  Chapter 71
Issue No. 2 – Option A
Working of diamonds and precious and semi-precious stones
Working of industrial diamonds
The working of industrial diamonds from unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted
diamonds is a substantial transformation.  Unworked industrial diamonds are raw stones which haveto be cut to a desired shape to be used on tools or machine accessories for drilling, cutting diamonds,
etc. for which the structure and the shape of the diamonds used are of great importance.  Operations to
give them a final form for fitting onto tools or m achine accessories changes the characteristics of the
diamonds and defines their uses.
The origin criterion should be:  CTSH.
Issue No. 2(b) – Option AG/RO/W/46
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Working of non-industrial diamonds and precious and semi-precious stones
The working of non-industrial diamonds and precious and semi-precious stones from
unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted diamonds and stones is a substantial transformation.
Uncut diamonds and precious and semi-precious stones are raw stones, the use and commercialinterest of which are determined by their shape a nd characteristics after working.  Moreover, working
of stones requires a very specialized knowledge and precision.
The process of working diamonds is the following:  first, the raw stone is sawn into two parts;
the largest part is bruted and sawn or cut using a laser in order to prepare the diamond.  A first
facetting is carried out to know the structure of the stone which will determine the way it will be cut.
Then, large facettes are created on which new facettes are polished.  Precious and semi-preciousstones undergo the same type of processing, the structure of these stones being moreover more
complex.
It should be noted that facetting is not the only process of working stones.  Stones can be
engraved, drilled, prepared as doublets or triplets, etc.  These processes should also be regarded assubstantial transformation.
Lastly, on a technical point of view, it is nearly impossible to determine the origin of the
country of extraction of a stone after working.  Indeed, most of the impurities have disappeared and
the colour may have changed.
The origin criterion should be:  CTSH.
Issue No. 2(c) – Option A
Working of synthetic or reconstructed stones
The working of synthetic or reconstructed stones from unworked or simply sawn or roughly
shaped stones is a substantial transformation.  The considerations regarding natural stones are also
relevant for synthetic and reconstructed stones (see above).
The origin criterion should be:  CTSH.
Issue No. 3 – Option A
Manufacture of articles of jewellery, goldsmiths' wares and other articles of precious metal, or
of metal clad with precious metal from parts
The manufacture of articles of jewellery, goldsmiths' wares and other articles of precious
metal or of metal clad with precious metal from parts is a substantial transformation.
The origin criterion should be:  CTHS.
Issue No. 4 – Option B
Manufacture of articles of natural or cultured pearls, precious and semi-precious stones,
synthetic or reconstructed, from pearls or stones
The manufacture of articles of natural or cultured pearls, precious and semi-precious stones,
synthetic or reconstructed, from pearls or stones is a substantial transformation provided that it is not
limited to permanent stringing or glueing of the pearls or stones.G/RO/W/46
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The origin criterion should be:  CTH except from heading 71.01 to 71.04 when the change is
only the result of permanent stringing of the pearls or stones.G/RO/W/46
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Issue No. 5 – Option B
Should the transformation of a blank into a finished article be regarded as a substantial
transformation?
The transformation of blanks or other unfinished forms into finished articles, both classified
in the same heading or subheading, is not to be regarded as substantial transformation.  Moreover, the
proposed Chapter Note is not clear enough and can be wrongly interpreted.
HS Codes concerned:  71.13, 71.14, 71.15, 71.16.As regards the general architecture of the rules the following proposals have been made:
(i) Mauritius should align itself along the Indian proposal on the determination of origin –
Rule 2.
(ii) The term normal equipment in Appendix 1(3) should be defined.(iii) The provision in respect of wholly obtained that "the good must not contain materials not
considered to be wholly obtained in that country" should be removed.
(iv) The provision relating to "de minimis" should be applied not horizontally but on a
product-specific basis and the percentage of de minimis should range between 10-15.
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