The customs clearance face of tomorrow :
the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO)
An initiative of ED Editions, subsidiary of the software editor CONEX, the objective of an information day is to guide operators, from shippers to logistics service providers, in the establishment of this new regulation which aims at making the supply chain more secure. This occasion presents the opportunity for them to meet with other operators and specialists at round-table discussions and to be able to share experiences. Among other participants, the programme includes: The Directorate General for Customs and Indirect Duties, Bureau E/3, Baker & McKenzie, the FNTR-CFOCT, Alis, Géodis, CONEX and numerous other testimonies. .
An information Day on the topic of the Authorised Economic Operator organised by ED Editions, 27 May 2008 at the Tour Pacific training centre, 11 cours de Valmy, Paris La Defense
The AEO, a certification that will become vital
AEO, or “Authorised Economic Operator” is a voluntary certification granted by Customs. This EU programme has been taken up by the 27 Member States. To this day, nearly 150 requests have been lodged in The Netherlands and around 70 in Germany, Great Britain, and Sweden, whereas in France just over 10 requests have been made. The companies concerned by these measures all play a role in the supply chain (manufacturers, transporters, forwarding agents, customs brokers, warehouse keepers…).
Three types of certification are planned: “customs simplifications”, “security/safety” and “full” (grouping the first two). The first certification brings with it certain advantages, such as the promise of fewer physical or documentary controls, priority treatment in the event of a control and so on. Furthermore, all future customs simplifications, such as the in-house customs clearance procedure for example, will be granted according to the obtaining of the “AEO simplification certification”.
The “security/safety” certification demands that the candidate meet both the security requirements as well as those laid out in the framework of the AEO “simplifications”. He/she would benefit from the same advantages, as well as the possibility of supplying entry and exit summary declarations with fewer requirements. Once again, the greatest advantage is yet to come: this status will be recognised in other countries once the EU concludes the corresponding agreements.
The third certification is rather similar to “security/safety” and is intended to blend into it in the next EU customs code.
Why is the EU establishing such a system ?
Ever since the September 11 attacks in the US, the international community has been reinforcing trade security. Washington has already put in place a large number of regulations designed to control importation flow: C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, similar to the AEO certificate), CSI (Container Security Initiative aiming to inspect sensitive consignments at the port of loading), ICS (International Container Security proposing to scan 100 % of containers before loading by 2012)…
The World Customs Organisation (WCO) has developed a system making it possible to recognise ‘safe’ operators, with the goal of rendering international trade safer and easier (SAFE). 149 of the 171 WCO member countries have already signed this accord.
In the same way, similar systems are starting to appear in countries such as China, India (Accredited Client Programme), Canada (the PIC programme), Australia, South Africa, Morocco, Jordan and so on.
Why is this essential ?
The international will is to conclude agreements in order to allow a mutual recognition of operators who have been certified safe and reliable (in terms of customs and security). The United States have already begun such negotiations with New Zealand, Canada, Jordan and Sweden. In this context, the entire supply chain should become secure.
French operators are at risk of being out of step with other Member States; what is at stake? Flow reorganisation and the rerouting of goods to entry points where the entire supply chain is secure. .
Arguments against the AEO
There are three major factors that make companies hesitate: the lack of new customs facilitations, the costs incurred and the American ICS.
The facilitations are planned, as was mentioned above. Time will tell if these new simplifications are only granted according to those companies possessing this status or not, as has been announced on a number of occasions. In addition, there is the possibility that the existing simplifications be eventually re-examined in relation to whether certification has been obtained or not.
As far as the cost of obtaining the AEO status is concerned, this will no doubt vary from one company to another. The most important step in the process is the preparation to be carried out leading up to the definitive request (a good understanding of the questionnaire, efficient internal information transfer to the services concerned etc.). Finally, for certain companies, the American ICS – which anticipates 100% of container traffic destined for the US be scanned (radioactivity and x-ray) at the port of departure – demonstrates the superfluousness of this regulation. Why? If 100% of the containers are scanned, why invest in this status with the objective of making safe trade more fluid? On the one hand, transatlantic trade is not necessarily targeted by this status.
Furthermore, the presence of a similar status in other countries will allow European partners to recognise reliable and safe local operators. On the other hand, 100% scanning does not meet with general agreement across the Atlantic and the deployment methods and analysis of the data collected have not been clearly defined. It is important to remember that this regulation originates from the houses of legislation, not from within the customs administration which has not played down its criticism of the law.
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