Authorised economic operator - AEO

Conditions and criteria for granting the AEO certificate

• The applicant need not be established in the Community customs territory (except for mutual recognition of AEO, the airlines and shipping companies, if they have a regional office in the EC and use simplified procedures).

• Over the last three years before the application has not committed a serious infringement or repeated infringements of customs rules, none of these persons: the applicant, company management, legal representative in customs matters, the person responsible for customs matters.

• The applicant submits a satisfactory system of managing commercial records
(accounting system, access to the customs authorities and customs, transport records, logistics system with a differentiating of goods EC / NON EC, the enterprise should organize and implement internal control procedures for handling of licenses and permits, keeping records and information, protection against the loss of information, informing the customs authorities about uncovered problems with compliance, safety measures for IT systems).

• The applicant shall demonstrate financial solvency for the past three years.

• The applicant complies with and apply security measures and protect their buildings and spaces.
(intrusion protection, access control, manipulation of goods, distinguish goods subject to prohibitions or restrictions, identification of business partners, security screening of employees, training employees in security).

 

Benefits accruing to the holder of an AEO certificate

  • easier and faster to obtain simplified customs procedures for the completion of the minimum of formalities,
  • if the holder of an AEO certificate applies for one or more permitions for the use of simplified procedures, customs authorities have do not re-examine those conditions which have already been examined when granting of AEO certificate. possibility of partial / full waiving of Guarantee (valid with effect from 1st July 2009),
  • reducing controls on consignments of AEO that means adequate number of controls and priority consideration in the clearance,
  • the examination of the consignment covered by the summary statement on entering or leaving the customs declaration lodged by an AEO, customs authorities will carry out necessary controls promptly. 
     

What is an Authorised Economic Operator - AEO?

Authorised Economic Operator is defined as a safe part of the supply chain, which in a course of its business is involved in activities aimed at customs legislation. To grant AEO status there must met certain criteria relating to customs operations executed within the European Union (EU).
These criteria are explicitly defined in Community customs legislation and standards are based on the WCO SAFE.

 

Who can apply for AEO status?

Approved subjects can be manufacturers, importers, exporters, freight forwarders, customs agents, carriers, shippers, brokers, ports, airports, terminal ports, airport terminals, intermodal terminals, operators of international transport, combined transport operators, operators of warehouses, operators express mail services, distributors and etc.
For the purpose of safety and security of international supply chain there are included in this process, all activities from processing the goods for export, to delivering the goods to another customs territory.
In the case of the European Union regards the goods produced outside the customs territory of the European Union which is on this territory either imported or is exported outside the European Union.
If the company carries out activity in the supply chain, may apply for the AEO status, regardless of their size. In European Union Member States it is usual that transnational corporations having in EU Memebers States are trying to obtain AEO status. This phenomenon we have even registered in Slovakia, but also big and medium-sized domestic companies doing business without foreign capital show great interest.

 

Reasons to apply for the AEO status?

After obtaining the AEO certificate you can benefit from easier and faster access to simplified customs procedures, facilitating customs controls relating to safety and security when entering the customs territory of the EU or leaving the customs territory of the EU.
Of course, there are much more reasons to obtain AEO status, but the most important is acquiring the image of a reliable business partner and not only for the customs administrations of member countries, but mostly for its traditional and new business partners.
This provides an AEO certificate holder a competitive advantage that will offer him in connection with upcoming complete adoption of the new customs within the Community (Modernised Customs Code and implementing regulations to him) much better treatment in the competitive enviroment in the field of providong services that exists there.
AEO project adopts in European Union Member States much more subjects and towards 10 February 2009 it was a total of 605 companies within the European Union gaining the status of AEO.
Of which 125 subjects received a certificate of type C (for simplified procedures), 16 S (Safety and protection) and more than 464 operators received a certificate of type F, so. combined (for simplified procedures and safety and protection).
This indicates a trend, where over three quarters (76,7%) subjects are combined holders of a certificate in respect of discharging the same criteria obligations it dominates. About one fifth (20.66)% entities holding a certificate of type C, thus focuse solely on simplified procedures. Mere 3 / 10 (2.64%) subjects which are holders of a certificate of type S, which is solely focused on safety and protection.

 

 

 

Types of AEO certificates

1. AEO certificate - Customs simplifications (Type C).
This type of certificate seek such subjects which in their practise use mostly simplified customs procedures in accordance with customs regulations.
2. AEO certificate - security and protection (TYPE S).
This type concerns the operators, seeking to facilitate the usage of customs controls relating to safety and security when entering the customs territory of the EU or leaving the customs territory of the EU.
3. AEO certificate - simplifications / Security and Protection (TYPE F).
Combined certificate is for operators who wish to benefit from the two already mentioned above.
For all three types it is necessary to meet the established criteria and conditions for