What is AEO?
The Authorized Economic Operator is a status granted to "trusted economic operators", who are eligible to benefit from a number of customs simplifications and operational benefits providing they satisfy the AEO authorization conditions that follow the principles of transparency, fairness, and mutual responsibility.
Who can become an AEO?
Any economic operator established in the customs territory of the Republic of Moldova that satisfy the criteria set forth in Articles 39-43 of the Customs Code and has no debts to the national public budget can lodge an application for AEO status.
The AEO program is open to all economic operators, including small and medium-sized enterprises, regardless of the role thereof in the international supply chain:
- importer
- exporter
- producer
- carrier
- customs broker
- freight forwarder
- holder of customs warehouses
List of companies that hold the AEO status and accepted to be included in the AEO List
How to apply for AEO status?
Any economic operator wishing to obtain the AEO status can lodge an application to the Central Office of the Customs Service through the information system for the management of AEO authorizations (SI „e-AEO”).
Types of AEO authorizations:
AEOC authorization – this type of status provides easier admittance to customs simplifications and is intended for those economic operators who plan to benefit from simplifications related to the clearance procedure established by the Customs Code of the Republic of Moldova.
AEOS authorization – this type of status provides for security and safety clearance and is intended for those economic operators who plan to benefit from facilities related to customs controls and security and safety, applied to the entry/exit of goods to/from the territory of the Republic of Moldova.
It is also possible for an economic operator to hold both authorizations, AEOC and AEOS, at the same time. In this case, a combined authorization shall be issued.
What are the criteria for granting the AEO authorization?
- Compliance
- Financial solvency
- Due management of commercial and transport records
- Practical competence standards and professional qualifications (specifically for AEOC)
- Safeguard of the security and safety of the international supply chain (specifically for AEOS)
What are the benefits of the AEO status?
- Fewer physical and document-based controls in relation to other economic operators (The AEO status does not imply elimination in full of all customs controls, it rather provides for the maximum reduction thereof. The Customs Service may decide to carry out customs controls where specific risks arise, or control obligations are required under specific laws (e.g. product safety legislation.)
- Priority treatment if selected for customs control
- Possibility to request a specific place for customs controls
- Easier admittance to customs simplifications
- Prior notification if selected for customs controls
- Priority access to state border crossing points (BSPs) and internal customs posts (ICP)
- Mutual recognition
- Use of the AEO Logo
The companies can apply for the AEO Logo, according to the approved template form, on commercial documents or otherwise, for the purpose of informing the partners and customers about holding this status of trust.
Logo AEO
Indirect benefits:
- Recognition as trusted and reliable trade partner
- Improved relationship with the Customs Service and other state institutions
Management of the AEO authorization:
Monitoring:
- Even though the AEO authorization is issued for an unlimited period, the economic operator shall be kept liable for the periodic monitoring of the status as part of its internal control system. - The economic operator should be able to demonstrate how the monitoring is carried out and to show the monitoring results.
- The economic operator shall review its business processes, risks, and systems to reflect any significant changes in its operations.
- The holder of the AEO authorization shall inform the Customs Service without delay, in relation to any situation that may affect the maintenance or content of the authorization.
- Monitoring is also done on a continuous basis by the Customs Service, including through off-site monitoring of the AEO daily activity and visits to the AEO premises, which allows to early detect any signal of non-compliance and subsequently adopt appropriate prompt actions to solve deficiencies or non-compliances, if any.
Re-assessment shall be required where:
- Modifications are made to the customs legislation, in particular, specific to the conditions and criteria related to the AEO status.
- On the basis of the results of conducted monitoring, or of the information provided by the AEO holder, or by other authorities
- In the case of AEOS authorizations, re-assessment is carried out at least once every 3 years.
Suspension:
The AEO authorization shall be suspended where:
- The Customs Service considers that there might be reasons for the annulment, revocation, or modification of the status, but it does not yet have all the necessary information to decide on the annulment, revocation, or modification of the AEO authorization.
- The Customs Service considers that the AEO requirements are not met, or that the AEO holder does not comply with the obligations assigned under the authorization.
- The AEO holder is provided a time-period to carry out the necessary measures to fulfill the conditions or to comply with the obligations.
- The holder of the authorization requests such suspension on grounds of temporary incapacity to fulfill the requirements provided in the authorization or to comply with the obligations assumed under the authorization.
Revocation and modification:
The AEO status shall be revoked and modified where:
- At least one of the requirements set for the AEO status is no longer met.
- The AEO with suspended authorization has failed to undertake the necessary measures and to remove the identified shortcomings in order to comply with the set requirements before the expiry of the established suspension term.
- The AEO requests the revocation of the authorization.
”e-AEO” Information System
What is "e-AEO"?
"e-AEO" is a stable and reliable information system designed for the recording, management, and traceability of the AEO applicants and holders. E-AEO aims to improve and digitize the processes related to consultation, application, review, management, auditing, monitoring, re-assessment, issuance, suspension, and other activities under the AEO status.
Authorization stages through "e-AEO"
- Submission of applications:
- lodging the applications and the self-assessment questionnaire by the economic operators
- validating the submitted applications by the officers of the Customs Service.
AEO recording and control: - reviewing the applications (20 days)
- carrying out audit activities (90 days)
- taking the decision to grant or deny the AEO authorization (30 days)
- issuing the AEO authorizations/logos to economic operators.
"e-AEO" provides for as follows:
- planning of the monitoring and re-assessment of the AEO authorization
- administration of System databases
- support at various stages of AEO application and authorization
- important announcements that are useful in the activity under customs regulation
- development and maintenance of classifiers and general system indicators
- delimitation of access rights for users, maintenance of the password system
- security, protection, and integrity of information based on the ISO 27001 international standard.
Documents used in "e-AEO":
In documents:
- the application for / suspension / withdrawal or modification of the AEO authorization
- the application for AEO logo
- the self-assessment questionnaire
- other confirmatory documents attached to the application
Technological documents: - the checklist of the set of documents presented by the economic operator
- the audit, monitoring and re-assessment plan
- other documents relevant to the process of review and control of the economic operator
Out documents: - the control plan and the related Order of approval
- the audit report and the decision issued (granting, refusal to grant, suspension, revocation, or modification of the AEO authorization)
- AEO authorizations with their status
Benefits:
- Facilitation of foreign trade
- Safety and security of the international supply chain
- Implementation of new international instruments in the customs field
- Reduced human interaction between the customs authority and the business environment
- Support for reliable partnerships between the customs authority and the business environment
- Exchange of information on the AEO List.
Answers to the most frequently asked questions can be found in the brochure below.
Legislation:
- Customs Code of the Republic of Moldova no. 95/2021, Section 4 "Authorized Economic Operator" Codul Vamal al Republicii Moldova nr. 95/2021, Secțiunea a 4-a „Operatorul economic autorizat”
- Government Decision no. 92/2023 regarding the implementation of Customs Code no. 95/2021, Section 3 "Authorized Economic Operator", Hotărârea Guvernului nr. 92/2023 cu privire la punerea în aplicare a Codului Vamal nr. 95/2021, Secțiunea a 3-a „Operator economic autorizat”
- Order of the Customs Service no. 481-O/05.12.2023 approving the Methodological Rules for the verification of the authorization criteria of AEO applicants and holders Ordinul Serviciului Vamal nr. 481-O/05.12.2023 cu privire la aprobarea Normelor metodologice privind modul de verificare a criteriilor de autorizare a solicitanților și titularilor autorizației de operator economic autorizat
- Guidelines for Authorized Economic Operators no. TAXUD/B2/047/20177-Rev. 6, developed by DG-TAXUD (European Commission) Ghidul privind Operatorii economici autorizați nr. TAXUD/B2/047/20177-Rev. 6, elaborat de către DG-TAXUD (Comisia Europeană)
- Decision of the EU-RM Customs Subcommittee, no. 01/2022 regarding the mutual recognition of the Program of the Republic of Moldova regarding Authorized Economic Operators and the Program of the European Union regarding Authorized Economic Operators (in force from November 1, 2022).