Entry into force of the UK-ESA Economic Partnership Agreement on 1st January 2021

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Mauritius along with Seychelles and Zimbabwe signed the United Kingdom (UK) - Eastern Southern Africa (ESA) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), referred as the "Agreement establishing an Economic Partnership Agreement between the Eastern and Southern Africa States on the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, other part" on 31st January 2019.

The Agreement entered into force on Friday, 01 January 2021.

The UK-ESA EPA contains 3 chapters namely Trade in Goods, Fisheries and Development Cooperation.

Under the agreement, the ESA Signatory states have duty free access on all products, including that of high export interest such as sugar, tuna, garments, agro processed products, on similar terms as the EU-ESA IEPA.

The text of the Agreement can be accessed on the link below:

Agreement establishing an Economic Partnership Agreement between the Eastern and Southern Africa States and the UK

Rules of Origin

The UK-ESA EPA rules of origin are product-specific and can be one of the following types:

  • Wholly produced
  • Change in tariff heading
  • Percentage rule

To benefit from preferential access under the agreement, exporters should obtain a Certificate of Origin certifying that the goods meet the Rules of Origin Criteria.

EUR1 Certificate of Origin

The EUR1 Certificate of Origin is both issued and approved by the Customs Department of the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA). The electronic application for the EUR1 Certificate of Origin is submitted by authorized TradeNet users to the MRA Customs Department through the TradeNet system. More information on the EUR1 Certificate can be obtained from the Customs Department:

Mauritius Revenue Authority
Customs Department,
Customs House
Mer Rouge
Port Louis
Fax: (230) 216 7784
Email: customs@mra.mu
Website: www.mra.mu

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