Insufficient operations

In addition to the product-specific rules of origin stipulated for the product, it must be verified whether the operations carried out in the EU or the partner country go beyond insufficient operations. To avoid that product-specific rules are fulfilled by only relatively simple operations on non-originating materials, all preferential trade arrangements contain a provision listing the working or processing which is insufficient to confer origin. These operations may include preserving operations, packaging, simple painting, simple cutting, simple assembly, simple mixing, etc.

If the production carried out in the EU or a partner country consists only of one or a combination of the listed operations, with no additional processing performed, the product cannot be considered originating, even if it meets the applicable product-specific rules of origin.

The fact that more than insufficient operations have been carried out is, in itself, not sufficient to confer originating status. The relevant product-specific rule must also be satisfied for the final product to acquire originating status.