Revision giving the Trade Descriptions Ordinance more flexibility has taken immediate effect, so that in determining the origin of goods, the provisions under the law can be applied to both a country and a place.

The Trade Descriptions Ordinance aims to ban false trade descriptions, including origin marking, from being applied to goods. While marking goods' origins is not mandatory, where it is used, it should not be false or misleading.

However, some provisions in the ordinance make reference to country only, leading to inflexibility when the provisions need to be applied to a place where the goods are manufactured.

The Customs & Excise Department said the revision provides the ordinance with flexibility, so that in determining the origin of goods, the provisions can be applied to both a country and a place.

Amendments made for consistency, clarification

Amendments to other provisions in the ordinance to achieve consistency and clarify the application of existing provisions in light of the amendments to replace references to country/countries by place/places have also been made.

The revision will not affect the legal framework for the issue of certificates of origin by the Trade & Industry Department and any approved bodies, as it is provided under the Import & Export Ordinance, its subsidiary legislation, and the Protection of Non-Government Certificates of Origin Ordinance.