From the beginning of this year, the list of economic operators benefiting from simplified customs clearance procedures and procedures has been supplemented by two other contractors. One has been granted the status of Authorized Economic Agent (AEO), and the other has been granted a clearance at home (PVD).

Authorizations were issued after they met a number of conditions, including voluntary compliance, lack of customs and tax law violations, and debt to the national public budget.

Currently, there are 118 authorized economic agents and 78 entrepreneurs who are allowed to pay at home.

We recall that the AEO concept was implemented in our country in 2014, being a conditionality of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement. The status of the AEO gives the holder a number of benefits, such as simplifying customs procedures, reducing the number of checks or prioritizing the border, and creating a separate track for holders of this authorization. Other facilities include the possibility of choosing the place where checks are carried out and postponement of customs payments for up to 30 days.

Under the pilot project launched in Leuseni in 2015, unilateral recognition of the EU AEO has been implemented, benefiting from the simplifications outlined above. At the same time, the Customs Service continues to promote the AEO Program in order to obtain mutual recognition of the AEO from the RM and the EU, so that the 118 AEOs in our country delivering goods in the EU space benefit from the same facilities.

At the same time, home clearance (PVD) allows the holder of this authorization to submit electronic customs declarations (with electronic signature) without having to present the goods imported or exported at a customs post. Thus, economic agents have the opportunity to clear their goods at their own customs warehouse or warehouse, which saves time, minimizing their transport costs.

Another trade facilitation instrument promoted by Customs is Approved Exporter's status, which exonerates its holders from the obligation to obtain a certificate of origin, the issue of which costs 6 euros. Thus, they can confirm the origin of the goods only on the basis of a declaration of origin applied on a commercial document. In January of this year, the value of goods exported by the 26 Approved Exporter holders increased by 36%, exceeding 690 million lei.

The Customs Service continues dialogue with the business community to identify new tools to simplify procedures and increase entrepreneurial competitiveness. At the same time, the institution urges economic operators to apply for the listed authorizations so that they can benefit from all the facilities offered by their possession.