In the wake of the implementationof the Customs – Trade PartnershipAgainst Terrorism (C-TPAT) in the US,and in keeping with the World CustomsOrganisation’s Framework of Standardsfor Security and Safety in the SupplyChain, the European Union (EU) hasintroduced the Authorised EconomicOperator (AEO) status.

The AEO is part of the WCO’s commitmentto secure international supplychains. The Bureau of Customs andBorder Protection (Customs, CBP) andthe European Commission (EC) haveagreed in principle to work toward amutual recognition of the AEO andC-TPAT systems.

AEO certification can take placeon three levels: Customs Simplifications,Security and Safety and CustomsSimplifications and Security and Safetycombined.

Certification will only take placeonce Customs authorities have hadthe opportunity to verify and examineapplications to ensure that criteria relatingto the operators’ control systems,financial solvency and compliancerecords have been met. The status of AEO will be mutually recognised inall the member states of the EuropeanUnion.

AEO status will be implementedin the EU beginning January 1, 2008.Member states are anticipated tobegin reviewing applications startingJuly 2007, however the main benefitsof certification will only be realisedwhen the pre-arrival/departure summarydeclarations and the central riskanalysis systems are introduced in July2009.