12th Feb, 2024
BAC Logistics South Africa is delighted to announce that in January 2024, we attained accreditation as an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) from SARS. BAC Logistics has achieved both Level 1 (Compliance) and Level 2 (Safety and Security) accreditations, marking the highest level attainable in the industry.
The AEO program, rooted in a Customs-Private partnership to enhance and secure global trade, was adopted by the World Customs Organization (WCO) in June 2005. In 2017, South African Customs introduced the Preferred Trader program, initially targeting exporters and importers, later expanding in 2021 to include various entities such as manufacturers, transporters, carriers, warehouses, clearing agents, and freight forwarders.
BAC Logistics underwent a rigorous accreditation process initiated in December 2023 with the South African Revenue Services. This process included customs audits covering compliance, financial history, internal processes, systems, and security of BAC Logistics South Africa and its subsidiaries.
As an AEO-accredited entity, BAC Logistics South Africa is committed to maintaining top-tier service levels for our clients, benefiting from the privileges extended to fully accredited partners of SARS. The appointment of a dedicated client relationship manager at SARS is expected to streamline clearance processes, while other government agencies will recognize the accredited and preferred status. Memoranda of Understanding with these agencies will further extend AEO benefits to them over time.
BAC Logistics South Africa is ready to support our customers in obtaining AEO accreditation, as it is anticipated to yield advantages such as reduced stops, a dedicated client relationship manager, and expedited turnaround times during interventions, as outlined by SARS.
We strongly encourage our clients to explore participation in the AEO accreditation program. If interested, kindly contact us and our client servicing team for more information on the program.
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