THE NUTS and bolts of the SA
application of the authorised
economic operator (AEO) concept
devised by the World Customs
Organisation (WCO) are likely to be
rolled-out by SA Revenue Service
(Sars) customs early next year.
This time last year, Sars
commissioner Pravin Gordhan set
a two year deadline for the SA
implementation of what, in essence,
is to be a global system designed
to afford accredited operators the
benefits of fewer customs stops
based on a set of internationallyrecognised
compliance criteria.
Although it bears some
resemblance to Sars’ own
accreditation system introduced
some years ago – which accorded
certain customers ‘green lane’
status for the clearance of their
goods based on a set of compliance
criteria – it’s only a superficial
likeness, according to Charles Speed-
Andrews of Safcor Panalpina, who
handles customs matters for the SA
Association of Freight Forwarders
(Saaff).
The AEO concept, he told FTW,
sets much more stringent conditions,
and aspirant agents will have to face
a much more formal audit procedure.
At the moment, he added:
“Everyone is aware of the principles
of the concept, but not of the rules
and regulations.”
It appears that’s what Sars has
been mulling over for the past year,
while at the same time having
discussions about what they are
trying to achieve with the industry
body.
While no specific timing has been
given, Speed-Andrews said he “hoped
to see something in the first quarter
of 2008”.
And, if you are looking for a
model of what can be expected, he
suggested that you should look at
the UK.
“They have defined and rolled out
the AEO concept,” he told FTW, and
added that he had heard nothing
contrary from the UK freight industry
about the proposed application.
Objectives:
● To provide proper security controls to ensure the protection of the
internal markets in close co-operation with major trading partners
around the world.
● To provide facilitation to those traders (AEOs) who demonstrate
compliant efforts to secure their part of the international supply chain.
Benefits:
● Fast tracked consignments and priority clearance
● Simplified pre-arrival/departure summary declarations
