Supply chain security – what’s the point?

The package of measures for a secure supply chain rests on three central pillars: approved traders (AEO – authorized economic operator), the summary declaration, and the EORI-code. All these measures concern the traffic of goods from or to the EU. Switzerland is part of this system.

On 1 January 2008 the EU introduced the status of ”AEO - authorized economic operator”, who can be granted facilities in security-relevant customs controls and / or simplifications in accordance with the customs regulations.

1 July 2009 will bring about the EORI-code (economic operator registration and identification). Every company wanting to export goods from or import goods into the EU must present this customs number. In Austria the EORI-code can be applied for at the competent customs authority.

The summary declaration is the third pillar of this security concept. A summary declaration must be submitted for goods which are imported into or exported from the EU-customs territory. (24 hours before loading for maritime traffic; for ground traffic one hour and for air traffic 30 minutes before departure). It had been planned to introduce summary declaration this year but it is expected to be postponed to the 31 December 2010. The reason is that not all countries involved have already been integrated in the electronic network. Switzerland and the EU both accept each other’s safety standards as equal. Concerning safety regulations for goods traffic Switzerland is placed on the same level as the EU-area.