What the AEO database shows
The European Commission publishes the EU's Authorised Economic Operators that have agreed to make their name public. For each one it gives the holder, the member state that granted the authorisation, the competent customs office, the type of authorisation and the date it took effect.
- AEOC: AEO for customs simplifications, which makes simplified procedures and customs authorisations easier to obtain
- AEOS: AEO for security and safety, which means fewer security-related controls and mutual recognition with several non-EU countries
- AEOF: holder of both authorisations
Why check a partner's status
An authorised operator has been audited by customs: record-keeping, solvency, compliance with customs rules and, for security and safety, the protection of its supply chain. Choosing an authorised forwarder, customs representative or supplier lowers the risk of incidents on your shipments. And if you apply for the status yourself, customs also looks at how you secure your relationships with business partners.
If the company does not appear
A missing name does not prove that the company is not authorised: publication is optional and many holders decline it. Check the exact spelling of the legal name, accents included, try part of the name, then ask the company for a copy of its authorisation: the number starts with the code of the issuing country, followed by AEOC, AEOS or AEOF.
The database only covers authorisations granted in the EU and for Northern Ireland. Equivalent programmes in other countries, such as the UK AEO or US C-TPAT, are not included.
Frequently asked questions
Is the search free?
Yes, with no sign-up. The name and country you enter are sent to the European Commission's database only when you run the search, and they are not stored in our databases.
What do AEOC, AEOS and AEOF mean?
They are the three types of AEO authorisation: AEOC for customs simplifications, AEOS for security and safety, AEOF for both. The type is shown on the right of each holder found.
Is the database up to date?
The Commission feeds it with data from the member states' customs administrations. A suspended or revoked authorisation may still appear for a while: for an important decision, ask for a copy of the authorisation in force.
How do you become an AEO?
You apply to the customs authority of the member state where your main customs records are kept, with a self-assessment questionnaire. The audit covers compliance, records, solvency and, depending on the type, customs competence or security. Our AEO guide explains the steps.
Is your file ready?
Check it for free in a few minutes, before you prepare your declaration.