The AEO status took legal effect on 1 January 2008.  Since then the customs administrations in the EC received hundreds of applications.  The vast majority of the applications are for a combined customs simplification and safety and security AEO certificate and have been received from a wide range of businesses, including importers, exporters and freight agents.

In the meanwhile, the first applications have completed the authorisation process and AEO certificates have been issued to the successful applicants (a.o. in Denmark, Germany, the UK and the Netherlands).   We expect the number of applications to grow in the coming months.

It is also expected that the benefits of AEO status will increase once mutual recognition agreements are in place.  The EC is currently in negotiation with a number of third countries, with the United States and China taking priority because of the volumes of trade involved.  An agreement has been concluded with the US on strengthened co-operation on security with the US and there are on-going discussions with the US to reach a mutual recognition of our standards.  According to our information the US authorities will expand the C-TPAT certificate with export transactions.  To our opinion this decision will speed up the mutual recognition of the AEO and C-TPAT standards between the US and EU.  Next to this, a pilot project has been started to study the smart and secure trade lanes between the EC and China.

Next to the US and China, Norway and Switzerland are also taking priority due to their shared border with the EC.  It is expected that Norway and Switzerland will introduce AEO or an AEO equivalent regime as a result of new pre-notification rules being introduced in the EU from 1 July 2009.  These rules require information on consignments being imported into the EU to be provided between 1 and 24 hours before the consignment leaves its point of departure.  This rule may have major impact at the borders with Norway and Switzerland as it could cause huge traffic jams and lenghty waiting for customs administrations.

The names of the first Belgian customs representatives abroad have recently been published: Paul Raes (Moscow), Isabelle De Stobbeleir (Beijing), Carine Willems (Pretoria), Werner Vandercruyssen (New Delhi) and Philip Bogaert (Washington D.C).  Referring to our article of 5th May, these people have been appointed to represent the Belgian Customs Authorities in the above mentionned countries.   The representatives are expected to liaise between the customs authorities of the guest country and the Belgian customs authorities.  They should assist foreign companies interested in dealing with Belgian companies and act as contact for economic operators and our administrations in the field of the AEO certification path. The post of customs representative is assigned for a period of 4 years and can maximum be twice extended with 1 year. 

On 3 June Customs4trade will be present on the AEO workshop in Namur.  This workshop is organised  by Logistics in Wallonia, ABCAL, VBO-FEB, FEBETRA, OTM, FOD-SPF Finances, UPTR and UWE.  They are also supported by the FOD-SPF Mobility and Transport. 

On the program are the lectures of Bernard Piette (Logistics in Wallonia), Vincent Reuter (UWE), Noël Colpin & Raymond Marchal (FOD-SPF Finances) and Luc Clauwaert (ABX Logistics).  Additionally, there are testimonies of companies who have already applied for AEO, such as Prayon, Garsou-Angenot and Caterpillar.  The testimonies are followed by a panel discussion which will be animated par Philippe Vandooren (Transport Echo). 

Rudy Thomaes (VBO-FEB) is concluding the programme on the subject of the Secure Trade Lanes.

The workshops starts at 9h00 and ends at 12h30 with a walking lunch.

We will provide information on our AEO services and our customs e-learning tools, developped by the WCO for which we are official distributor of the Benelux.  

We look forward to assist you. 

Location: Espace Vinçotte, Parc Scientifique Créalys, rue Phocas Lejeune 11, 5032 Isnes (Gembloux)

Participation: 40€ (VAT exclusive) per person

More information or participation ? click here

The Belgian Customs and Excise Administration can go ahead to post 5 customs representatives in important markets, outside the EU.   Noël Colpin, the Belgian Administrator General, convinced the Belgian government to have its own customs representatives in Moskow, Pretoria, Washington, New-Delhi and Beijing.  Aim is to simplify the economical relations with these countries by the presence of Belgian customs representatives.  The names of the newly appointed will be made official in June.

This decision is complimentary to the project for ’secure trade lanes’.  A ’secure trade lane’ is a logistics information platform, which gives access to transaction data.  Customs authorities are studying how to work together for the exchange of data and the monitoring of movement of goods.  Belgian Customs are involved in the study of the trade lane with India.  Other countries next to India with whom the EU wants to set up trade lanes are China, South-Africa and South-Corea. 

Another initiative in the same context is Authorized Economic Operator (AEO).  AEO certified companies will eventually be authorised to use these trade lanes.  By doing so, they will benefit from a preferential treatment offered by customs authorities for consignments proven safe.  The level of certification will however determine how clients will be subject to customs checks.   

It is clear that customs will evolve from its current role as an administrator into a new role as facilitator of business.