Customs accreditation process moves forward

THE ROLL-OUT of the authorised economic operator concept is making headway in South Africa. It’s still an area of debate within SA Revenue Service which is engaging in open discussions with stakeholders on the issues involved. “The process is moving forward,” Charles Speed-Andrews of Safcor Panalpina, who handles customs matters for the SA Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff), told FTW. “It’s not an event but a process that will take two to three years to be fully rolled out.” FTW was awaiting comment on latest developments from Customs, which was involved in financial yearend deadlines, when this issue went to press. In the meantime, the concept has made significant progress in Europe where the first AEOs have been accredited. It’s one of a series of measures being coordinated by the World Customs Organisation as part of a multi-layered approach to facilitating trade and making supply chains more secure and controlled. In adopting the AEO regime, the EU is aligning with similar measures introduced by other countries, including the USA. The scheme provides legitimate businesses with a quality mark, which will demonstrate that their internal controls and procedures are efficient and compliant. According to a statement from Davies Turner Air Cargo, which has become one of the first companies to be accredited, as the European Commission has developed AEO status, a key feature is that after each member state’s Customs body has approved AEO status, then each of the other 26 Customs bodies in the EU has a veto on the issuance of this status. Potentially, some 140 000 companies involved in international trade are eligible to apply within the UK alone.