Phase 1
Supply chain assessment
We map the physical and documentary flow of goods, identify custody points and the business partners involved, and measure the gap against the AEO criteria.
Supply chain
Supply chain security and AEO status
Supply chain security has stopped being a logistics matter and become a condition of access to international trade. We prepare the organisation to evidence it and to obtain Authorised Economic Operator status.
- Typical duration
- 6 to 12 months
- Framework
- ISO 28000 · WCO SAFE Framework
- Benefit
- Customs facilitation and mutual recognition
- Support
- SORT Redmine included
Objective and scope
We work on the two planes AEO status requires: the supply chain security management system under ISO 28000 —context, risks, controls and continual improvement— and compliance with the criteria the customs authority verifies: compliance record, financial solvency, accounting and logistics record systems, and physical, process, personnel and business-partner security.
Project phases
Phase 2
Security risk assessment
We analyse risks of contamination, substitution, theft, unauthorised access and tampering at each leg of the chain, and define the controls that mitigate them.
Phase 3
Control implementation
Physical security of facilities, access control, container and seal security, personnel and business partner security, and documentary traceability.
Phase 4
Application preparation
We consolidate the evidence, run a self-assessment against the customs authority’s criteria and support the on-site validation process.
What the implementation includes
- Mapping of physical and documentary flow
- Supply chain risk assessment
- Physical security of facilities
- Access control for people and vehicles
- Container and seal security
- Personnel security and background checks
- Business partner assessment
- Traceability and document control
- Supply chain incident management
- Self-assessment ahead of validation
Frequently asked questions
What concrete advantage does AEO status bring?
Facilitation at customs controls —fewer physical inspections and faster clearance— and, above all, mutual recognition with the customs administrations of other countries, which carries those benefits over to export operations.
Is ISO 28000 mandatory to become an AEO?
It is not a formal requirement, but most AEO criteria overlap with the requirements of the standard. Implementing ISO 28000 organises the work and leaves the evidence ready for customs validation.
Does it only apply to exporters?
No. The status covers different actors in the chain: importers, exporters, customs brokers, carriers, warehouses and logistics operators, each with its own set of criteria.