AEO (Authorized Economic Operator): A party involved in the international movement of goods that has been certified by a national customs authority as complying with supply chain security standards.
AEO Certificate: Official document issued by customs authorities confirming AEO status.
AEO Compliance: Adherence to the requirements and standards set for obtaining and maintaining AEO status.
AEO Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA): Formal agreement between two customs administrations recognizing the compatibility of their respective AEO programs.
AEO Program: A customs-to-business partnership program that recognizes reliable operators and provides them with trade facilitation benefits.
B
Border Control: Measures implemented by customs authorities to supervise the movement of goods across international borders.
Business Continuity Plan: A documented strategy outlining how a business will continue operations during unplanned disruptions to service.
C
CEFTA (Central European Free Trade Agreement): A trade agreement between non-EU countries in Southeast Europe.
Compliance Assessment: Evaluation of an economic operator’s adherence to customs regulations and AEO requirements.
Customs Broker: A person or firm licensed to enter and clear goods through customs for importers and exporters.
Customs Clearance: The process of preparing and submitting documentation to facilitate the import or export of goods.
Customs Code: The legal framework governing customs procedures within a country or customs union.
Customs Compliance: Adherence to customs laws, regulations, and procedures.
Customs Simplifications: Streamlined customs procedures available to trusted traders, reducing administrative burden.
D
Due Diligence: Comprehensive assessment of a business partner’s reliability and compliance.
E
Economic Operator: Any business involved in activities covered by customs legislation.
Export Control: Government regulations limiting the export of specific goods, particularly those with potential military applications.
F
Facilitation Benefits: Advantages granted to AEOs, such as fewer physical inspections and priority treatment.
Fiscal Representative: A local entity representing a non-resident company for VAT and other tax purposes.
I
Import Control: Measures to monitor and regulate goods entering a country.
International Supply Chain: The network of organizations, people, activities, information, and resources involved in moving a product from supplier to customer across international borders.
M
Mutual Recognition: The acceptance by one country of the AEO certifications granted by another country.
N
Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII): Inspection methods that do not require opening cargo containers, such as X-ray or scanning technologies.
P
Physical Security: Measures to protect facilities, cargo, and transport units from unauthorized access.
Pre-arrival Processing: Customs procedure allowing for the submission and processing of import documentation before goods arrive.
R
Risk Assessment: Systematic evaluation of potential risks in the supply chain.
Risk Management: The identification, analysis, and mitigation of risks in the international supply chain.
S
Safety and Security Standards: Requirements related to the protection of the international supply chain from terrorism and other security threats.
Self-Assessment: Process where an economic operator evaluates its own compliance with AEO criteria.
Supply Chain Security: Measures implemented to protect the supply chain from theft, terrorism, and other threats.
T
Trade Compliance: Adherence to laws and regulations governing international trade.
Trade Facilitation: Simplification, modernization, and harmonization of export and import processes.
Trusted Trader: An economic operator recognized by customs authorities as highly compliant and therefore eligible for simplified procedures.
V
Validation: Process by which customs authorities verify that an AEO applicant meets the required criteria.
Vulnerability Assessment: Systematic examination of a supply chain to identify security weaknesses.
W
WCO (World Customs Organization): Intergovernmental organization focused on enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of customs administrations.
WCO SAFE Framework: International standards for securing and facilitating global trade, developed by the World Customs Organization.
