The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) today (January 10) presented certificates to seven companies in a ceremony to recognise their compliance with the accreditation criteria under the Hong Kong Authorized Economic Operator (HKAEO) Programme for extra clearance facilitation.
Since the launch of the Programme in April 2012, 15 companies, including multi-national companies, local manufacturers and small and medium enterprises engaging in importing/exporting, manufacturing or freight forwarding industries, have been accredited as the Authorized Economic Operators (AEO).
Under the HKAEO Programme, local companies engaging in business principally related to the international supply chain are welcome to apply for the AEO status. Participation to the Programme is open, free and voluntary. Once accredited, a company can enjoy extra clearance facilitation.
The development of AEO programmes has become a global trend. A number of economies, including most of Hong Kong's principal trading partners, have rolled out their programmes. Some of them have established among themselves mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs), whereby AEOs of one economy may enjoy facilitation provided by the others.
Currently, the C&ED has entered into MRAs with the Mainland and India Customs. Under the MRAs, local AEOs can enjoy clearance facilitation, such as reduced examination or prioritised clearance, for their goods imported from or exported to the Mainland and India. C&ED is also planning to sign MRAs with the Korea and Singapore Customs in the first half of this year.
A specially designed HKAEO logo was introduced at the certificate presentation ceremony. All AEOs would be provided with the logo as a symbol for accreditation and identification.
More details of the Programme are available on website www.customs.gov.hk/en/trade_facilitation/aeo.
Ends/Friday, January 10 2014
