Within the framework of the Capacity Building Programme, the WCO and the Customs Administration of the Democratic Republic of the Congo jointly conducted a National Seminar on Rules of Origin in Kinshasa from 9 to 13 September 2013, attended by Customs officers and officials from a large number of Ministries as well as by the private sector of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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.