United Kingdom: AEO certification is a top-level issue

As of this month, a. hartrodt (UK) is certified as an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO). "The British customs and tax authority, HM Revenue & Customs, hereby confirms that we are a reliable company in the supply chain and that our security and customs controls meet strict standards," says Andreas Russ, Managing Director UK/Ireland in London. The internationally recognized seal of quality strengthens the market position of a. hartrodt (UK).

British economy and trade with EU grow

With AEO certification, a. hartrodt (UK) is positioning for increasing trade between the UK and the European Union (EU). The new British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, announced a new start to relations with the EU and Germany in Berlin at the end of August. Meanwhile, British economic output is growing – in mid-August it was 2.3 percent higher than before the outbreak of the pandemic, according to the German newspaper "Handelsblatt".

Application process requires thorough preparation 

AEO status requires thorough preparation and documentation. Therefore, Andreas Russ made the complex application process a top-level issue right from the start and personally led all internal and external audits. "It took a lot of work to bring the application over the finishing line successfully – even though most of the security and audit procedures were already in place," he reports. For example, a. hartrodt (UK) is also approved as a Regulated Agent by the British Civil Aviation Authority. Bringing it all together in a formal way through the AEO program was not easy, "especially as the requirements have become more extensive and challenging".

Andreas Russ emphasizes "that our customs control procedures not only meet government requirements", but also go well beyond them. He considers the AEO certificate to be particularly important because it confirms a. hartrodt's consistently high safety standards to new and potential clients.