To prove complete production of fishery products (deep-sea/coastal) and livestock products, what are the specific supporting documents that must be submitted for each production type? Released

Proving whether marine and livestock products are 'Wholly Obtained or Produced' during the import/export customs clearance process is one of the core elements in determining their origin. This is especially crucial as a mandatory requirement for applying Free Trade Agreement (FTA) benefits or for confirming compliance with import regulations for specific items. I will provide a detailed explanation of the specific evidentiary documents for each production type that you inquired about.

1. Proving Wholly Obtained Status for Marine Products

For marine products, the evidentiary documents vary depending on the fishing method and region. 'Wholly Obtained' refers to marine products caught by vessels of that country within its territorial waters or in international waters, and does not include marine products caught in another country's territorial waters or by another country's vessels that are merely processed. Therefore, the entity and location of the catch are central to proving origin.

① In the case of Distant Water Fishing

Distant water fishing primarily refers to operations in international waters or within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of another country. In this case, wholly obtained status can be proven through the following documents:

• Vessel Nationality Certificate: A document clearly showing which country the vessel belongs to. This serves as the most basic evidence to satisfy the requirement of being 'vessels of that country'.
• Distant Water Fishing Permit: A document proving that distant water fishing activities have been authorized by the government of that country. It demonstrates legal fishing rights in specific areas and can also confirm compliance with international fisheries organizations' regulations.
• Catch Import Declaration Confirmation: A document confirming the declaration and verification that the catch was brought into the domestic market after fishing operations. This proves that the marine products caught by the vessel actually entered the country and can also be used to determine illegal fishing.
• Logbook: A record kept on fishing vessels detailing the actual fishing process, catch quantity, fishing grounds, and timing. It is crucial for proving origin as it allows for verification of detailed fishing activities.
• Vessel Entry/Departure Records: By tracking the vessel's departure and arrival records, the duration and movement of fishing operations can be traced to indirectly prove distant water fishing.

These documents are used to comprehensively prove that marine products were entirely produced by vessels of that country, by linking the vessel's nationality, fishing permit, actual fishing operations, and catch import.

② In the case of Coastal/Inshore Fishing

Coastal/inshore fishing primarily refers to operations within the territorial waters or adjacent Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of that country. Similar to distant water fishing, the entity and location of the catch are important, and it can be proven with the following documents:

• Fishing Permit: A document proving the legal authority to conduct fishing activities in coastal waters according to the laws of that country. This ensures the legality of fishing activities.
• Shipping Confirmation Document or Marine Product Purchase Confirmation: A document proving that the caught marine products have been shipped or purchased from the producer (fisherman) by a distributor or processing company. This is important for verifying the distribution channels of domestically caught marine products and ensuring transparency in transactions.
• Fisherman Registration Certificate or Association Membership Confirmation: A document proving that the entity conducting actual fishing activities is a fisherman of that country. This satisfies the nationality requirement of the producer.
• Vessel Registration Certificate: A document showing that the fishing vessel used is registered in that country.

In the case of coastal/inshore fishing, unlike distant water fishing, the fishing grounds are relatively clear. Therefore, the qualifications of the fisherman, the registration of the vessel, and the transparency of domestic distribution channels are key to proving wholly obtained status.

2. Proving Wholly Obtained Status for Livestock Products

The 'wholly obtained' status for livestock products refers to meat and by-products from animals born, raised, and slaughtered in that country. Simply raising or processing animals imported from overseas for a certain period in the domestic market is generally not recognized as wholly obtained. Therefore, it is necessary to prove that the entire production process took place within that country.

• Evidentiary Documents for Actual Producer and Farm:
  • Farm Registration Data or Livestock Rearing Business Permit: Proves that the farm is officially registered in that country or operates legally with a livestock rearing business permit. This is a basic document for confirming the legality and existence of the production facility.
  • Membership Confirmation Document (e.g., Livestock Cooperative Membership Confirmation): Proves that the producer belongs to a livestock-related cooperative of that country, thereby increasing the credibility of domestic production activities.
  • Individual Identification and Traceability Management Data: Detailed traceability management data such as individual identification numbers for each animal, birth date, rearing period, history of movement between rearing locations, vaccination records, and slaughter records, clearly demonstrate that the animal was born and raised domestically and that its process was transparently managed. This is particularly crucial data for verifying the origin of livestock products.
• Production Capacity Data:
  • Annual Production Volume Confirmation Data: Data proving the annual volume of livestock products produced at the farm, used to verify consistency with declared export volumes. This supports the reliability of production capacity.
  • Production Facilities and Rearing Personnel Confirmation Data: Proves actual production capacity through details such as the size of rearing facilities, feed storage, slaughter facilities (or slaughter consignment agreements), and the status of rearing personnel. This supports that actual production activities are taking place, not merely existing on paper.
  • Feed Purchase and Feeding Records: Purchase details and feeding records of feed used for rearing livestock can serve as supplementary evidence to prove domestic rearing.

Proving the wholly obtained status for livestock products primarily focuses on demonstrating that the entire process of 'birth-growth-slaughter' took place within that country. Especially when individual animal traceability is well managed, verification becomes much easier and serves as a critical criterion in customs' origin verification process.

3. Importance of Proving Wholly Obtained Status and the Role of a Customs Broker

The 'Wholly Obtained' criterion is the strictest yet clearest standard among rules of origin. It means that all processes, from the production of raw materials to the final product, occurred within one country, assuming that no raw materials or processes originating from other countries were involved at all. Especially when applying for FTA tariff benefits, this wholly obtained criterion can be the most preferentially applied rule of origin for specific items.

Customs comprehensively reviews submitted documents to determine if the origin of imported goods has been correctly declared. If documents are incomplete or insufficient, additional document submission may be requested, or an origin verification may be conducted. In the worst-case scenario, FTA preferential tariff application may be denied, or a fine may be imposed. Furthermore, manipulation of origin or false declarations can lead to legal penalties, making accurate evidence and declaration essential.

In such a complex and crucial process of proving origin, the role of a customs broker is extremely important. A customs broker clearly guides you on the list of documents to prepare, thoroughly reviews whether each document complies with the rules of origin of the relevant agreement and domestic laws, and, if necessary, helps supplement missing or insufficient information through communication with producers or relevant authorities. Additionally, they provide comprehensive consulting, including preparing responses to customs inquiries and dealing with origin verifications, to minimize risks during the customs clearance process and support smooth trade.

Accurate and sufficient document preparation is an essential factor for smooth customs clearance and the application of trade benefits, so it is crucial to meticulously manage relevant evidentiary documents.