Companies applying for AEO accreditation should provide the following major documents for inspection by Customs officers:-

1. Application Form for the Programme;
2. Company Profile (an introduction of background and organization, major business activities, operational procedures and security accreditations (if any));
3. Self-assessment Questionnaire;
4. Process Map(s) of supply chain [sample]; and
5. Site Plan(s) of premises [sample]

Applicants should submit the above documents in one of the following ways:-

Apart from documentary inspection, Customs officers will visit a company on different occasions to verify if the information outlined in its application is accurate and implemented. As part of the Customs-to-Business partnership programme, the joint validation will enable the participating company to review its security profile with the assistance of the Customs officers.

Validation will include the verification of supply chain security processes and procedures that a company agrees to perform under the auspices of the Programme. Reliability and effectiveness of key security measures will be evaluated with reference to risk management principles, whereas best practices for securing supply chain will be shared during the validation.

The company will be notified by the Customs and Excise Department in advance of the validation along with the need for supporting documentation. If situation requires, selective validation on the company's business partners may be arranged.

The Department will assess a company's level of compliance with the accreditation criteria and give advice for rectification whenever appropriate. The duration of accreditation process will depend on the completeness of information submitted to the Department, the complexity of a company's business operations and the number of sites where joint validation will be conducted.

Accredited local companies will be granted an AEO certificate with a validity of three years.