On 11 November at 10:00 to 13:20 the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) will be hosting a webinar session of “Commissioners General and the Accredited Preferred Traders on the SACU Preferred Trader Programme”.
According to the invitation SACU is implementing a Regional Customs Modernisation Programme that aims to enhance operational efficiencies for the cross-border movement of goods; secure borders and eliminate entry of sub-standard and illicit goods; ensure seamless movement and facilitation of legitimate trade; as well as to promote traders’ compliance with the national laws and policies regarding importation and exportation of goods.
One of the critical pillars of the Regional Customs Modernisation Programme is the Preferred Trader Programme (PTP). The SACU region commenced with the development of the PTP from as early as 2010 and agreed on a phased and incremental approach, starting with the establishment of a formal national Preferred Trader Programme followed by the migration to the Authorised Economic Operator Programme and mutual recognition of the accredited traders in the region.
The SACU PTP is a precursor to the SACU Authorised Economic Operator Programme. As such, this webinar serves to augment work undertaken thus far as the region works to develop a fully fledged Regional Authorised Economic Operator Programme that will include both Compliance and Security.
In addition, the SACU region is developing a Regional Authorised Economic Operator Programme to address the security aspects in the supply chain.
Story by: Riaan de Lange