Printable Version e-Learning Tool for Authorised Economic Operator

The European Commission has launched an interactive web-based training tool to help companies learn the relevant facts about the new Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) legislation and the process of becoming an AEO. The AEO status provides easier admittance to customs simplification, and/or allows entitlement to facilitation concerning security and safety controls.

The Authorised Economic Operator principle was introduced in the safety and security legislation via Council Regulation Nr. 648/2005 and Commission Regulation Nr. 1875/2006. Member States are entitled to grant the AEO-status to any economic operator that meets common criteria relating to the operators' control systems, financial solvency, compliance record and safety and security requirements. The status of the Authorised Economic Operator granted by one Member State is recognized by the other Member States, but does not confer the right to benefit automatically in the other Member States from simplifications provided for in the customs rules. However, the other Member States should grant the use of simplifications to Authorised Economic Operators provided they meet all the specific requirements for the particular simplifications. Obtaining the AEO status is not a prerequisite but is in the short term seen as a quality label (such as ISO certification).

The e-Learning tool aims at explaining in details what AEO is about, what the benefits are, who should apply for AEO and provide guidance on how to become an AEO.

As of January 2008, applications for the AEO status can be sent in to the national Customs Authorities.

To find out if AEO is beneficial for your company, FedEx advises to run through this excellent information tool. The module for traders is available from the European Commission’s Taxation and Customs Union website, and can be downloaded free of charge by clicking here.