On November 5th, prestigious AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) certificates were presented to entrepreneurs from the Silesian Voivodeship. The ceremony took place in the Auditorium of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Silesia in Katowice, as part of a seminar organized by Fundusz Górnośląski S.A. titled “Customs and tax facilitations for entrepreneurs. The status of Authorized Economic Operator”.
The certificates were presented by the Deputy Director of the Customs Chamber in Katowice, Inspector Andrzej Szczotka. During the meeting, the Head of the Entrepreneur Service Department, Rafał Krzywdziński, presented the origins of the Authorized Economic Operator institution as well as the conditions and criteria necessary to receive an AEO certificate. He also discussed the facilities resulting from holding the status and using simplified customs procedures. The gathered guests were also able to learn about the latest electronic services of the Customs Service, which influence the improvement of business operations. The implemented service model “Customer needs – offered services” sets the standards for the operation of a modern Customs Service. The introduction of innovative electronic services accelerates the flow of goods and improves customer service. Facilitations in Polish seaports, booking customs clearance times for trucks at the eastern border, removing bureaucratic barriers, increasing the availability of e-services, and shortening service times clearly confirm that the Customs Service is more business-friendly and provides increasingly better services.
– We decided to apply for the AEO certificate primarily because it provides a guarantee of compliance with Community law when conducting international transactions. It allows for more efficient and faster operations within the framework of international transport customs clearance and guarantees the certainty of delivering materials to the customer on time, which is a priority in our business – says Jan Brachmann, President of the Management Board of Seifert Polska Sp. z o.o., which successfully passed the audit of the Customs Chamber in Katowice and thus joined the group of AEO Authorized Economic Operators.
During the event, the following received Authorized Economic Operator certificates:
1. Seifert Polska Sp. z o.o.,
2. OASIS EAST Sp. z o.o.,
3. VITKOVICE MILMET SA,
4. „INTERSPED” Tomasz Smaza,
5. Customs Agency „PRIMA-SAD BIS”,
6. Zakład Wielobranżowy „B-TRANS” Bartłomiej Kyrcz.
In total, 69 entities in the Silesian Voivodeship can boast the title of AEO Authorized Economic Operator.
– During the audit, we examine, among other things, the entrepreneur’s compliance with customs requirements, the possession of appropriate systems for managing commercial and transport records, enabling proper customs control. The entrepreneur’s solvency is also verified, as well as – depending on the type of certificate – the level of implemented safety and security standards – says Rafał Krzywdziński, Head of the Entrepreneur Service Department at the Customs Chamber in Katowice. – Entities that have successfully completed the audit are a relatively narrow, prestigious group. Currently, there are just over 800 of them in Poland, although this number is systematically increasing.
The AEO (Authorised Economic Operator) certificate is an institution of the Community Customs Code, which was introduced into the legal order of the European Union on January 1, 2008, to create a secure supply chain and combat terrorism. Granting AEO status is a recognition of the entrepreneur as a privileged entity entitled to a number of facilities when conducting trade in goods. It applies to entities involved in customs operations, including manufacturers running customs warehouses, carriers, freight forwarders, importers, and exporters. It is available to all entities, regardless of their size and the scale of their operations.
AEO status granted in one European Union member state is recognized throughout the Community. An Authorized Economic Operator may apply for an AEO C certificate regarding customs simplifications, AEO S related to safety and security, and AEO F, which is a combination of the above.