The Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU) Adopts AEO

Accredited traders in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and SA will benefit from lower trade costs and quicker turn-around times for imports and exports, because of a Mutual Recognition Arrangement signed this month by the 5 Member States of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The Heads of Revenue Administrations for the 5 countries have agreed to recognise each other’s importers and exporters who have been granted the status of an Authorised Economic Operator (AEO). Traders who are AEOs across the SACU region will benefit from fast-tracked controls and reduced administration costs for customs clearance. Readers will recall that the SA Revenue Service (SARS) presented the benefits of the AEO programme to EFSA in November. For more information contact me ([email protected]).