Engineering specialist, Sheffield Forgemasters, is one of just a handful of UK companies to secure an internationally recognised trade certificate in preparation for post-Brexit operations.
Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) customs simplification certification helps businesses with international consignments receiving priority treatment for customs controls and faster customs simplifications and authorisations processes.
Sheffield Forgemasters, which can export up to 80 per cent per cent of its products depending on market demand, met the AEO criteria after a two-year process, which included on-site auditing by HMRC to ensure that the company has the required procedures and controls in place.
Gareth Barker, Director of Customer Programmes at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “Securing our AEO certificate is an important milestone for the company and goes a long way to ensuring that our exports go unhindered once we leave the EU single market.
“It has taken two years of diligent work by our internal export control team to ensure that we met the required standards set by HMRC to gain AEO accreditation, but this will bring significant benefits to the business and our international trading partners.
“What AEO status demonstrates to the global business world, is that Sheffield Forgemasters has a secure international supply chain standing and customs procedures in place which meet both UK and EU standards.”
Sheffield Forgemasters specialises in the design and manufacture of high integrity forgings and castings offering a ‘one-stop shop’ for steel production from a single site in the UK. Its Global markets served include Defence, Marine, Nuclear, Steel Processing, Offshore, Renewables, Power Generation, High Pressure Reactors, Steel Plant and Ingot & Bar.
Authorised Economic Operator status is an internationally recognised quality mark.
The process for AEO recognition is extremely detailed and companies applying for the standard must demonstrate proven financial solvency, three-years of practical competence or professional qualifications for customs clearance and rigorous supply chain protection.
Once a business has secured an AEO customs simplification certificate, it may move goods in temporary storage between different EU member states and carries a lower risk score, which may reduce the number of checks that customs carry out on its international documents and goods.