Customs

1st Regional Workshop of Accredited Preferred Traders

On 05 November the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) released its 5-page document on the “Summary of Outcomes of the “1st Regional Workshop of Accredited Preferred Traders”.

According to the document:

  •        All SACU Member States have accredited Preferred Traders, respectively.
  •        The SACU region is renaming the Preferred Trader Programme to an Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Compliance Programme.
  •        In parallel, the SACU Region is developing a Regional AEO Programme which will include Compliance and Security.
  •        The SACU region will consider different models of when developing the Regional AEO Programme including measurable, meaningful and tangible benefits. It should also include e-commerce and all actively trading sectors.
  •        The region plans to expedite work to complete the development of the Regional AEO Programme to pave way for implementation.
  •        The region plans to also expedite mutual recognition arrangements to extend benefits to the regional level.
  •        The SACU region plans to include Other Government Agencies and Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in the AEO Programme.
  •        All SACU Member States to meet the same minimum criteria to accredit the Preferred Traders.

The Workshop’s Conclusion:

The SACU region to:

  •        Follow up with Member States to identify challenges, including where the Preferred Trader Programmes are reported to be dormant. Secretariat to provide the required support to resuscitate the Programmes.
  •        Improved data exchange between countries, accreditation of exporters to be detailed and enable uploading and submission of digital entries to improve speed of registration process; gate passes to be submitted electronically.
  •        Expedite the development and implementation of the Regional AEO Programme with Mutual Recognition and commit to timelines
  •        Ensure appropriate and robust collaboration in the region’s private sector, OAGs, Customs.
  •        Resuscitate the National and Regional Customs Trade Forum.
  •        Develop a monitoring tool for implementation of the AEO to track meaningful tangible benefits.

The Workshop document is accessible at:

http://www.sacu.int/docs/pr/2020/Summary-Outcomes-First-Regional-Workshop-of-Acredited-Preferred-Traders.pdf

http://www.sacu.int/docs/speeches/2020/Remarks-by-the-Executive-Secretary_AEO-Webinar-4-November-2020.pdf

Story by: Riaan de Lange

SA Customs Buzz