ARUSHA -  The East African Business Council has welcomed a move by East African Community (EAC) partner states to operationalise internationally-accepted common customs policies and procedures aimed at faster border clearance and improving revenue collection. 

During the 5th steering committee meeting for the World Customs Organisation (WCO)-EAC Customs modernization project recently held in Kigali, Rwanda, the five EAC Customs Commissioners signed new common Customs policies for Authorised Economic Operators (AEO), Risk Management and Post Clearance Audit.

"The Private Sector lauds the efforts of the EAC Revenue Authorities to introduce the concept of the AEO as it will greatly reduce the cost of doing business associated with delays in Customs clearance,” said Ms Agatha Nderitu, the Executive Director of East African Business Council.

Once operational, Customs Officials will issue AEO certificate that will grant holders easier customs clearance such as reduction in the number of physical and documentary inspections as well as priority inspections and a possibility to choose a place where goods can be inspected. This is possible since AEO certifies that the holder complies with WCO or equivalent supply chain security standards.

"We are very privileged to be working with the WCO-EAC Customs Modernization project to sell the attendant benefits of this project to the private sector including working with them to become AEO compliant,” Ms Nderitu said.

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