Authorised Economic Operator (AEO)
As of 2008 Dutch business can apply for the status of Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) with customs. Based on trust customs grants different facilities to companies who have obtained this status. Companies who are taken into consideration for obtaining this certificate must meet certain requirements. The AEO status and the guidelines for granting are based on the Communautair Douane Wetboek (CDW) and the corresponding application regulation. With the AEO certificate customs shows that they have investigated that the companies are reliable partners for customs.
The AEO status is for all parties in the logistical chain: importer, exporter, supplier, warehousing, transport, forwarder and customs agent. There are three types of AEO certificates: customs simplification, safety and a combined certificate. The AEO certificate is not obligatory.
The level in which a company or logistical chain is granted facilities depends on the type of certificate. The maximum advantage is granted when all parties in the logistical chain are AEO certified or have taken safety measures. The basis is no longer the control of individual flows of goods.
In the safety thinking of the European Commission the responsibility of business is most important. The logistical chain must be managed with safeguards. In this chain there are three important control moments:
- at the beginning of the chain (export)
- at the beginning of the chain (import)
- at EU border crossing
Which consequences does your company experience when you are not AEO certified? In future can you still use customs simplifications? We are a reliable partner which you can use to make your chain AEO safe and we can assist with AEO application and certification.