Library - AEO Association

Position papers

Publications

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Useful documents and links

Customs Authorities (CEFTA Region)

Albania – General Directorate of Customs (https://dogana.gov.al/english/c/171/197/199/general-directorate-of-customs) Official portal with news, procedures and contact details for Albanian Customs.
Bosnia & Herzegovina – Indirect Taxation Authority (Customs) (https://www.uino.gov.ba/portal/en/customs/customs-procedures/) Guide to customs procedures, forms, and tariffs in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Kosovo – Customs Administration (https://dogana.rks-gov.net/) Central hub for import/export rules, AEO status, and risk-management in Kosovo.
Montenegro – Customs Administration (https://www.gov.me/en/customs-administration) Details on Montenegrin customs legislation, e‑services, and facilitation tools.
North Macedonia – Customs Administration (https://customs.gov.mk/en-GB/pocetna.nspx) Procedures, notices, and online tools for traders at Macedonian borders.
Serbia – Customs Administration (https://www.carina.rs/en.html) Features AEO programmes, duty calculators, and import/export guidelines.
Moldova – Customs Service (https://customs.gov.md/en/articles/titlul-en-) Presents customs rules, risk management, and the Authorized Operator scheme in Moldova.

Customs Authorities (Global / Mutual Recognition)

U.S. CBP – CTPAT & Mutual Recognition (https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/ports-entry/cargo-security/c-tpat-customs-trade-partnership-against-terrorism/mutual-recognition/aeo-programs) Overview of CTPAT and its MRAs with other AEO schemes.
India CBIC – AEO Programme (https://www.cbic.gov.in/entities/search/AEO) Explains India’s AEO criteria, benefits, and application process.
India National AEO Portal (https://aeoindia.gov.in/) Portal for filing and tracking AEO applications in India.

Free Trade Agreements (Balkans)

CEFTA – AEO Framework (https://cefta.int/what-we-do/trade-in-goods/customs/authorised-economic-operator/) CEFTA’s mutual recognition framework for AEOs across South-East Europe.

European Union

European Commission – AEO (https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/customs-4/aeo-authorised-economic-operator_en) EU portal detailing AEO legislation, application steps, and benefits.

World Customs Organization (WCO)

WCO – AEO Compendium & Validator Guide (https://www.wcoomd.org/en/topics/facilitation/instrument-and-tools/tools/aeo-compendium.aspx) Repository of AEO best practices and the Validator Guide.
WCO – AEO Validator Guide (PDF)
(Click here) Detailed manual for AEO assessors and managers.

World Trade Organization (WTO)

WTO – Trade Facilitation (https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tradfa_e/tradfa_e.htm) Covers AEO-linked provisions in the Trade Facilitation Agreement and case studies.

United Nations

UNECE – UN/CEFACT (https://unece.org/trade/uncefact) Overview of AEO within trade facilitation and e-business standards.
UN ESCAP – Trade & Customs Facilitation (https://www.unescap.org/our-work/trade-investment) Asia-Pacific resources on AEO, TFA implementation, and capacity building.

MSME Support

Trade4MSMEs – AEO Guide for Small Businesses (https://trade4msmes.org/guides/authorized-economic-operators-2/) Practical guide to AEO benefits and application for micro, small, and medium exporters.

Donor & Development Banks

World Bank (https://www.worldbank.org/) Projects and funding for customs modernization and AEO rollout.
EBRD (https://www.ebrd.com/home.html) Trade facilitation programmes and AEO capacity building in emerging markets.
ADB (https://www.adb.org/) Technical assistance for AEO infrastructure and policy reform.

Standards & Auditors

ISO (https://www.iso.org/standards.html) Catalog of standards relevant to AEO compliance in quality, security, and supply chain.

Chamber of Commerce

ICC – AEO (https://iccwbo.org/?s=&fwp_search=AEO) Insights on global AEO practices and importance of MRAs.

Special Reports

European Court of Auditors – Special Report 13/2023: AEO (https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/publications?ref=SR-2023-13) Audit findings on the effectiveness of the EU AEO framework.

Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs)

Asia & Global

China – Serbia (Feb 2021; effective Oct 1, 2023) China and Serbia recognize each other’s AEO programmes for reciprocal facilitation: https://research.hktdc.com/en/article/Njc0MjA3OTA2
China – Japan (Oct 2018) Enables lower inspection rates and priority clearance for Chinese and Japanese AEOs: https://aeo.wcoomd.org/list/country/156
China – Uruguay (Apr 2019) Reduces documentary and physical inspections for Chinese and Uruguayan AEOs: https://aeo.wcoomd.org/list/country/156
EU – Japan (May 24, 2011) Waives duplicate audits and grants priority clearances under a full-scope MRA: https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/customs-4/aeo-authorised-economic-operator/mutual-recognition_en#japan
India – Singapore (May 20, 2025) Streamlines risk assessments and reduces examinations for Indian and Singaporean AEOs: https://indiplomacy.com/2025/05/21/india-and-singapore-strengthened-trade-ties-with-aeo-agreement/
India – Ongoing Negotiations CBIC negotiating with ~30 partners—including the U.S., South Korea, UAE, Taiwan, Australia, and Malaysia—for MRAs: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/india-actively-engaged-with-30-nations-for-mutual-recognition-agreements-cbic-chairman/articleshow/115760480.cms

Africa

South Africa – India (Oct 2015) Reciprocal facilitation measures for South African and Indian AEOs, including reduced inspections: https://aeo.wcoomd.org/list/country/222
South Africa – Republic of Korea (Oct 2015) Lower inspection rates and faster cargo release for SARS and Korea Customs AEOs: https://aeo.wcoomd.org/list/country/222
South Africa – United States (Sep 2021) Priority treatment and data exchange for American CTPAT members and South African AEOs: https://aeo.wcoomd.org/list/country/222
South Africa – Uruguay (Sep 2018) Reduced documentary and physical inspections for accredited traders in both countries: https://aeo.wcoomd.org/list/country/222
South Africa – Iran (Aug 2006) Accelerated cargo release and data-sharing under the WCO SAFE Framework for both parties: https://aeo.wcoomd.org/list/country/74
South Africa – Japan (Jul 2012) Mutual recognition of security standards and streamlined risk assessments: https://aeo.wcoomd.org/list/country/74
South Africa – Uganda (Feb 2023) Data exchange and reduced inspection rates for South African and Ugandan AEOs: https://aeo.wcoomd.org/list/country/106

Europe

EU – Switzerland (Jul 1, 2009) Shared data exchange and identical safety-and-security benefits under the EU–EFTA framework: https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/customs-4/aeo-authorised-economic-operator/mutual-recognition_en#switzerland
EU – Norway (Jul 1, 2009) Common data platform and mutual acceptance of credentials for Norwegian and EU AEO-S participants: https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/customs-4/aeo-authorised-economic-operator/mutual-recognition_en#norway
EU – United Kingdom (Post-Brexit TCA) Streamlined data sharing and facilitation for AEO-S holders under the Trade & Cooperation Agreement: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-eu-trade-and-cooperation-agreement

EU – Republic of Moldova (Decision No 1/2022) Automates recognition and cross-border security benefits for certified AEOs: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-moldova-customs-subcommittee-decision-no-1-2022