(1)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 (2) lays down the procedural rules, referred to in Article 64(1) of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013, to facilitate the establishment in the Union of the preferential origin of goods, including the procedural rules of origin for the purpose of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) of the Union.

(2)

Article 79(4) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 provides that all GSP beneficiary countries are to apply the registered exporter system (the REX system) as of 30 June 2020 at the latest for the certification of GSP preferential originating status. After that date, certificates of origin Form A may no longer be issued by the competent authorities of those countries.

(3)

In order to contain the spread of the Coronavirus COVID-19, which on 11 March 2020 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, a set of unprecedented measures, particularly measures of confinement and social distancing of persons, has been put in place. Those measures have also affected staff in companies and public administrations of GSP beneficiary countries, involved in the management of GSP origin procedures and the establishment and the operation of the REX system, which had a negative impact on regular working procedures, production and trade.

(4)

Recognising the impact on trading partners, the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy have set out plans for a robust and targeted Union response to support partner countries’ efforts in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic in a Joint Communication on the Global EU response to COVID-19 (3).

(5)

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic some countries benefitting from the GSP are facing serious difficulties to respect the 30 June 2020 time-limit for the application of the REX system. Beneficiary countries in which the REX system could not be deployed or used due to the pandemic should be able to benefit from an extension of the transition period.

(6)

Considering that such an extension would be an exceptional measure derogating from the maximum duration of the transition period foreseen in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447, the beneficiary country should complement the notification that it needs to benefit from an extension with a due justification of the need to extend the transition period, as well as a work plan detailing how it intends to fully apply the REX system by the end of the envisaged extended transition period. For the same reasons, any extension of the transition period for the application of the REX system should be limited in time.

(7)

A reporting mechanism should be provided for to ensure that beneficiary countries for which the transition period has been extended continue their preparations for the application of the REX system in order to meet the new time-limit.

(8)

Considering the difficulties which certain beneficiary countries have in fulfilling their obligations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this Regulation should enter into force as a matter of urgency.

(9)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Customs Code Committee,