Section 3

An economic operator who is established in the customs territory of the Community and who meets the conditions set out in Articles 14 and 15 may request the status of authorised economic operator. The customs authorities shall, if necessary following consultation with other competent authorities, grant that status, which shall be subject to monitoring. The status of authorised economic operator shall consist in two types of authorisations: that of a ‘customs simplification’ authorised economic operator and that of a ‘security and safety’ authorised economic operator. The first type of authorisation shall enable economic operators to benefit from certain simplifications in accordance with the customs legislation. Under the second type of authorisation the holder thereof shall be entitled to facilitations relating to security and safety. Both types of authorisations may be held at the same time. The status of authorised economic operator shall, subject to Articles 14 and 15, be recognised by the customs authorities in all Member States, without prejudice to customs controls. Customs authorities shall, on the basis of the recognition of the status of authorised economic operator and provided that the requirements related to a specific type of simplification provided for in the customs legislation are fulfilled, authorise the operator to benefit from that simplification. The status of authorised economic operator may be suspended or revoked in accordance with the conditions laid down pursuant to Article 15(1)(g). The authorised economic operator shall notify the customs authorities of all factors arising after that status was granted which may influence its continuation or content. The criteria for the granting of the status of authorised economic operator shall be the following: a record of compliance with customs and tax requirements; a satisfactory system of managing commercial and, where appropriate, transport records, which allows appropriate customs controls; proven solvency; pursuant to Article 13(2), in cases where an authorised economic operator wishes to take advantage of the simplifications provided for in accordance with the customs legislation, practical standards of competence or professional qualifications directly related to the activity carried out; pursuant to Article 13(2), in cases where an authorised economic operator wishes to take advantage of facilitations with regard to customs controls relating to security and safety, appropriate security and safety standards. The measures designed to amend non-essential elements of this Regulation, by supplementing it, laying down rules in respect of the following: the granting of the status of authorised economic operator; the cases in which review of the status of authorised economic operator is to be carried out; the granting of authorisations for the use of simplifications by authorised economic operators; identification of the customs authority competent for the granting of such status and authorisations; the type and extent of facilitations that may be granted to authorised economic operators in respect of customs controls relating to security and safety; consultation with and provision of information to other customs authorities; the conditions under which the status of authorised economic operator may be suspended or revoked; the conditions under which the requirement of being established in the customs territory of the Community may be waived for specific categories of authorised economic operators, taking into account, in particular, international agreements, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 184(4). Those measures shall take account of the following: the rules adopted pursuant to Article 25(3); professional involvement in activities covered by customs legislation; practical standards of competence or professional qualifications directly related to the activity carried out; the economic operator as the holder of any internationally recognised certificate issued on the basis of relevant international conventions.

← art_12__para_2__text_1 · All articles · Article 13 →

Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-07 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.