Certificate of Origin procedures govern issuance, verification, retention and retrospective checks ensuring preferential SAFTA origin claims compliance. The procedures specify that the Certificate of Origin shall be issued by a designated Issuing Authority, which must verify origin through documentary evidence and may conduct pre-exportation checks. Certificates must follow prescribed form and handling rules, be valid for twelve months, and may be issued retrospectively in defined circumstances. Importing authorities may request retrospective verification and suspend preferential treatment pending results, while Issuing Authorities must retain application records, treat information as confidential, and cooperate on fraud investigations.