The South African Revenue Services (Sars) has committed to implementing the longawaited Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme on December 1. That’s the word from Penny Bologo, Sars executive in charge of AEO, who told a packed audience at a Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry business breakfast last week that the programme would initially focus on high-level engagement, “specifically for the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers”. It was initiated by the World Customs Organisation around 2005 to “act as a deterrent to international terrorism, secure revenue collection, and promote trade facilitation internationally”, and news of the local launch has been welcomed by the industry. In a bid to avoid all potential hiccups with other government agencies (OGA), Sars is also seeking seamless fluidity from the SA Police Service and Home Affairs, to name just two OGAs, once AEO kicks in. “We engaged with them prior to engaging with the private sector,” Bologo said. “We wanted to get buyin from the start so that if there are any issues, we deal with them together.” That process, currently under way, also entails further engagement with additional OGAs once Sars has received input from them following requests for comment. From Sars’ side, it involves introducing AEO as efficiently as possible, hopefully with no disruption to existing Customs measures. Rather, the whole point of AEO is to speed up matters around freight control as it passes from one country to another. From a road haulage point of view, Bologo explained: “We don’t want truckers to get to the border and still join a long queue. They need a designated counter so when they get there, there won’t be any delays. It’s pointless for us to release shipments when our drivers are still in line at immigration.” Bologo added that training formed a large part of AEO implementation. “We’ve already had extensive training and it will be ongoing because we want to train each and every Customs official. We want our people to understand what we do as Customs and how it impacts on the private sector.” The collector’s group executive for trade services, Rae Vivier, was also on hand to clarify any misconceptions that may have arisen out of AEO. Answering a question as to minor or medium-level involvement in AEO, Vivier dispelled the idea that the trade-facilitating programme was only there for OEMs and large industrial and corporate concerns. “The programme is open to all importers and exporters regardless of the size of your company so you are invited to come and join the programme.” All engagement from the revenue authority, she said, entailed Sars sending presentations to private sector interests to familiarise them with AEO and their sectorspecific questions.
INSERT: The programme is open to all importers and exporters. – Penny Bologo