On 30 April 2025, the Ministry of Commerce (“MOC”) issued Prakas No. 047 on the Procedures for Applying and Issuing Origin Certificate Letter for the Export of Certain Goods to the United States. The Prakas sets out a regulatory framework aimed to strengthening the enforcement and monitoring or origin rules for Cambodian exports to the United States, specifically to prevent origin fraud and ensure compliance with both Cambodian and US rules of origin.
Effective from 12 May 2025, exporters and producers of listed goods must register in the MOC’s CO automation system to apply for an Origin Certification Letter (“OCL”) without any public service fee. The issuance of the OCL is subjected to an initial on-site inspection by MOC officials to verify compliance with origin rules. Detailed procedures are outlined in the Standard Operating Procedures (“SOP”), including key procedures and mechanisms as below:
- inspection protocols;
- documentation requirements;
- inter-ministerial data exchange;
- risk-based enforcement mechanisms; and
- coordination with US authorities.
Raised by the Prime Minister Hun Manet during the Labour Day event in Preah Sihanouk, this Prakas underscores Cambodia’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of its exports, close regulatory loopholes, and respond to export-related irregularities. Therefore, exporters and producers are strongly encouraged to comply with the new procedures, while competent authorities are urged to implement the requirements efficiently to avoid disruption to legitimate trade and ensure a balanced, transparent, and credible export process.
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