Authorised Economic Operator: Revenue helps Irish Trade secure AEO status in advance of deadlines
The Revenue Commissioners have today (30 October) announced that traders will be free to apply to them for Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status from Wednesday, 31 October. This will allow traders to begin the application process in advance of the official commencement of the EU AEO Programme in January 2008.
The AEO programme is primarily a trade facilitation measure. Operators established in the EU, that meet specific qualifying criteria, may apply for and receive AEO certification. The aim of the AEO programme is to enhance security through granting recognition to reliable traders and encouraging best practice at all levels in the international supply chain.
When all parts of recent EU security measures are introduced, traders will face a number of additional burdens, such as a requirement to provide data to Customs in advance of the movement of goods. The AEO Programme seeks to identify trusted members of the global supply chain and, where possible, to limit any adverse impact from these new initiatives. Internationally, all of the major trading nations have begun to introduce similar security measures and the AEO concept, through mutual recognition, will eventually be extended worldwide.
The status of AEO is open to all operators involved in activities covered by Customs legislation, and who meet the required standards in relation to their general compliance record, logistical and control systems, financial solvency and security and safety systems. It is intended that operators having AEO status will be recognised worldwide as safe, secure and compliant business partners in international trade and will be given a lower risk score in risk analysis profiling systems. The AEO provisions will become effective from 1 January 2008 in advance of the full implementation of the provisions on 1 July 2009.
Irish traders can apply for AEO status from Wednesday, 31 October. Revenue's Customs Division has undertaken an information campaign with the trade which has been ongoing over the past few months and further information on the new programme, together with the 
application form (PDF, 48KB) and a special self-assessment questionnaire (PDF, 170KB), is available on Revenue's website (www.revenue.ie).
Customs Manager for the AEO project John O'Leary, urges traders to do some preparatory work before applying for AEO status to help reduce the time it will take to evaluate the applications:
"The single most important factor in determining the amount of time it will take to complete an evaluation will be the amount of advance preparation undertaken by the applicant. We have developed a self-assessment questionnaire and our advice to applicants will be that unless you have completed the questionnaire in full and are confident that your business can meet all of the standards set down in the accompanying explanatory notes, do not submit an application for AEO status to Revenue."
[Ends 30/10/07]
