AEO, short for Authorized Economic Operator and translated as "Certified operator" in Chinese, refers to an enterprise that participates in the international circulation of goods by any means and meets the standards set by the General Administration of Customs. The AEO system is the core system in the Framework of Global Trade Security and Facilitation Standards of the World Customs Organization, which aims to minimize customs regulatory risks through cooperation between customs and customs, customs and business, and customs and other relevant departments, so as to promote global supply chain security and trade facilitation, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win cooperation between customs and enterprises and smooth trade.
Our customs will be registered in the customs registration and record of the enterprise according to the credit rating is divided into advanced certification enterprises, dishonest enterprises, other registration and record enterprises, of which the advanced certification enterprises are AEO enterprises of our customs.
Why Become an AEO?
China's customs has formally implemented the AEO system since 2008, providing eligible enterprises with the most convenient and preferential management measures for the domestic customs, other domestic departments and customs of mutual recognition countries. It can be said that AEO enterprises are VIPs of the customs and can enjoy preferential policies at both the international and domestic levels.
International: AEO mutual recognition countries or regions customs clearance facilitation measures
Since the implementation of the AEO system in 2008, China's customs has been vigorously promoting the international mutual recognition of AEO and focusing on improving the level of domestic and foreign customs clearance facilitation for Chinese enterprises.
On February 4, 2022, China's Customs and Russian Customs signed the "Arrangement between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Customs Service of the Russian Federation on the mutual recognition of" Certified Operators ". Goods directly imported and exported between AEO enterprises of the two countries will enjoy preferential customs procedures, priority inspection, and the application of lower document review and inspection rates during customs clearance, which will significantly reduce the warehousing, logistics and other trade costs of enterprises. On the other hand, thanks to the strict requirements of the AEO system for trade security, the mutual recognition of AEO between China and Russia will further promote the safety and smooth supply chain of the two countries, and create a safer and more convenient environment for the two countries to consolidate the foundation of energy cooperation and continue to expand the scale of trade and investment. China's AEO "circle of friends" has been further expanded.
Up to now, China's customs has signed AEO mutual recognition agreements with 22 economies, covering 48 countries (regions), ranking first in the world in the number of mutual recognition countries (regions), including 32 countries jointly building "one dai and one lu", 5 members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) and 13 Central and Eastern European countries. The AEO system has paved a "green channel" for Chinese enterprises to go abroad, and AEO qualification has become a veritable "golden signboard" at home and abroad.
Domestic: (1) Customs facilitation measures
(1) The average inspection rate of import and export goods is less than 20% of the average inspection rate of enterprises implementing conventional management measures, except for special provisions of laws, administrative regulations or the General Administration of Customs;
(2) The average sampling proportion of the origin investigation of export goods is less than 20% of the average sampling proportion of enterprises, except for special provisions of laws, administrative regulations or the General Administration of Customs;
3, priority for import and export goods customs clearance procedures and related business procedures;
4. Recommend to other countries (regions) the registration of agricultural products, food and other export enterprises;
5. May apply to the Customs for exemption of guarantee;
6. Reduce the frequency of inspection and verification of enterprises;
7. Declaration can be made to the Customs before the export goods arrive at the customs supervision area;
8. The Customs shall set up coordinators for enterprises;
9, AEO mutual recognition countries or regions customs clearance facilitation measures;
10. Trustworthy joint incentive measures implemented by relevant state departments;
11. Priority for customs clearance after resumption of international trade due to force majeure;
12. Other administrative measures prescribed by the General Administration of Customs.
On the basis of credit management measures, combined with the actual business development, the General Administration of Customs has further refined and formed 22 preferential measures for advanced certification enterprises in 5 categories, including priority handling, reducing the frequency of supervision, reducing the cost of customs clearance, shortening the processing time, and optimizing services.
(2) trustworthy joint incentive measures implemented by relevant state departments
In October 2016, 40 central departments jointly signed the "Memorandum of Cooperation on Implementing trustworthy Joint incentives for high-level Customs certification Enterprises", and high-level certification enterprises can enjoy 49 joint incentive measures.
How to become an AEO?
Enterprises registered and filed in the customs, no matter the size of the company, the amount of import and export, as long as the integrity of business, law-abiding norms, can submit a written application to the customs of the place of registration.
According to the general standards for advanced certification enterprises and the corresponding individual standards, the customs shall review the applications and relevant materials submitted by the enterprises, and go to the enterprises for on-site certification. The Customs shall, within 90 days from the date of receipt of the application and relevant materials, conduct certification and make a decision. Under special circumstances, the customs certification time limit can be extended by 30 days.
For enterprises that have been certified and meet the standards of advanced certification enterprises, the Customs shall issue advanced certification enterprise certificates; Enterprises that do not meet the standards of advanced certification enterprises shall be issued by the Customs without a certification decision.
Other related issues
(A) Is there a fee for applying for AEO certification?
No charge. Whether it is AEO certification or credit cultivation work, the customs shall not charge any fees.
(2) Does the advanced certification enterprise certificate have a period of validity?
The advanced enterprise certificate is valid for a long time. However, the customs reviews the advanced certification enterprises every 5 years, and if the credit status of the enterprises is abnormal, the Customs may not regularly carry out the review. If the advanced certification enterprise fails to pass the review or involves other credit rating downgrade circumstances, the customs will immediately downgrade its credit rating.
