Within the framework of the European Union’s Trade Support and Regional Integration Programme (PACIR), the WCO and the Côte d’Ivoire Customs Administration jointly conducted a National Seminar on Rules of Origin in Abidjan from 8 to 12 July 2013, attended by Customs officers and officials from the Côte d’Ivoire Ministry of Integration.

Topics discussed during this Seminar included the key concepts for proper origin determination, and a number of related operational issues, such as the establishment of an efficient organization, provision of effective training and private sector outreach.

During the Seminar, the WCO presented its Comparative Study on Preferential Rules of Origin and the Database of preferential trade agreements. The Seminar also allowed presentation of the WCO's Revenue Package initiative and the new Guidelines on Preferential Origin Verification, which have been designed to assist WCO Members in bringing the verification provisions in Free Trade Agreements into smooth operation in the field.

Discussions during the National Seminar also emphasized the importance of verifying the originating status of goods, rather than merely checking the authenticity of the Certificate of Origin.