The Federal Ministry for Finance has developed this certification in order to ensure a standardised international supply chain from the manufacturer of a product to the end consumer. The requirements, which companies must fulfil in order to become an AEO include aspects of bookkeeping, IT security, access controls, and the internal processes of the customs and logistics department. A representative of the customs authority may conduct an on-site inspection of the premises to verify the exhaustive voluntary information provided by the company and submitted to the authority.

Against a background of increasing globalisation and security increasingly becoming an issue, the European Union has embedded security-relevant aspects into their customs laws.

A central element therof is the introduction of the AEO. AEO stands for Authorised Economic Operator and signifies that the relevant company is particularly reliable and trustworthy.

It also means that the company is entitled to special privileges within the scope of customs clearance. For more information on this topic, please read the relevant page on the website of the Federal Ministry for Finance at www.zoll.de.