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Documentary Credit World

Documentary Credit World (DCW) - Nov/Dec 2023 Vol. 27 No.10 section - Updates

ICC Briefing Takes Up Handling of Certificates under UCP600

Prompted by what it perceives as a lack of general awareness of ISBP 821 provisions for the handling of certificates, the ICC Banking Commission addressed the subject of “Handling of Certificates under Documentary Credits subject to the UCP 600” in Technical Advisory Briefing No. 8 (TAB-8), the latest of its ongoing educational series, dated 28 November 2023.

TAB-8 directs its analysis on matters impacting Certificates of Origin (ISBP 821 Paragraphs L1-L8), Beneficiary’s Certificates (ISBP 821 Paragraphs P1-P4), and Analysis, Inspection, Health, Phytosanitary, Quantity, Quality and other Certificates (ISBP 821 Paragraphs Q1-Q11).

In its walk through specific ISBP 821 Paragraphs, TAB-8 gives examples and covers circumstances regarding requirements for, and proper handling of, certificates. Its analysis addresses the basic requirement and function of a certificate, the issuer of a certificate, content of a certificate, the impact of non-documentary conditions, statements contained in a presented certificate, consignee and consignor information stated on a certificate, and invoice details in a certificate.

TAB-8 then addresses general principles pertaining to the handling of certificates regarding: Absence or mistyping of documentary credit reference numbers on a certificate; Interpretation of virgules and commas indicating a range of data; Signing and dating of certificates; Completion of data boxes, fields, or spaces; Shipping marks; and Dual purpose documents.

Overall, TAB-8 emphasizes the necessity of understanding the content of ISBP 821 in order to adequately know how certificates are to be handled under UCP600 credits. TAB-8 and previously issued technical advisory briefings are freely available at the ICC Digital Library.