Authorized economic operator

As an Authorized Economic Operator ( AEO abbreviation; engl. Authorized Economic Operator [ AEO ] ) a certified company is referred to in the Customs Law of the European Union, which enjoys certain privileges.

The status of authorized economic operator allows companies among others throughout the European Union in a simple process without further extensive review approval for customs procedures with economic impact and simplified procedures to obtain. In this respect, the application of uniform standards for the award of status within the European Union of great importance.

The granting of this status is subject to extensive requirements regarding the reliability, solvency, the history of compliance with the relevant legislation, and, where appropriate, the fulfillment of certain safety standards.

History

The status of AEO with the EC Regulation 648/2005 of 13 April 2005, in Article 5a of the Customs Code (Regulation ( EEC) No 2913 /92) 11 June 2005 introduced. The AEO is similar to this in parts of the U.S. Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C- TPAT ).

The Customs Code Implementing Regulation ( CCIP) has changed significantly with the Regulation (EC ) No 1875/2006 of 18 December 2006. Among other things, further details of the status of authorized economic operator has been made.

Certificates

It introduces three different certificates for the Authorised Economic Operator in Article 14a, Section 1 of the CCIP. These are:

In this case the certificate AEO F combines the certificates AEO AEO C and S.

Licensing requirements

The licensing requirements are as follows:

The licensing requirements are explained in more detail in the guidelines " AEO " (document TAXUD/2006/1450 of 29 June 2007).

Approval process

Responsible for issuing the certificates the subject area B of the locally competent principal customs office ( HZA ). The processing time there is since January 1, 2010 90 days. This period may be extended by 30 days. Between 1 January 2008 and 1 January 2010, the period was transitional, 300 days. The processing time of HZA begins only with the presence of all necessary for the acceptance of the application information (Article 14c, paragraph 2 CCIP). Within 30 days the HZA has to consider the applications for completeness. The involvement of the authorities of other Member States is governed by Articles 14l and 14m CCIP. According to Article 14l CCIP, the other Member States shall be notified of each approval process within five days about this. A standardized information and communication system for all Member States will be developed in accordance with Article 14x CCIP. This is a beta version has been available since early 2008. A fully functional version is planned for late 2008. Can not be done in a Member State examining the licensing requirements, so 14m under Article CCIP will consult the authorities of the other Member States concerned. In the Federal Republic of Germany, the contact point AEO is responsible for coordinating with the other Member States of the Community in Bundesfinanzdirektion Southeast in Nuremberg.

Applications may be validly accepted by the competent customs office since 1 January 2008. The first AEO certificates have already been issued.

Benefits to the owner

The status of authorized economic operator has some advantages for the owner. Where a holder of an AEO certificate AEO AEO C or F to a customs simplification of Article 14b, paragraph 1 of the CCIP (eg clearance, consignor / consignee ) apply, the conditions have already been tested on the issue of the certificate to be fulfilled.

Owner of S and F certificates must not transmit the full record from the introduction of electronic prior notification on July 1, 2009. You can submit a reduced data set out in Annex 30A CCIP Section 2.5.

The audit cadence of certificate holders should be less than that of participants without certificates. Here, however, is the risk analysis in accordance with Article 14b, paragraph 4 CCIP observed. The certificate holder AEO AEO S or F can CCIP be informed of the intended examination before a physical check pursuant to Article 14b para 2.

The aim is to reduce the amount of collateral to be deposited for certificate holders. The detailed configuration is not yet complete.

The European Union aims to recognize the status of authorized economic operator in international agreements with third countries to secure the supply chain.

Regulation

The regulation with internal administrative arrangements for authorized economic operator has been released on 17 December 2007.