Dutch Customs has announced that this amendment will apply to indirect and direct representatives with effect from 1 July 2017. With this new arrangement, Customs hopes to improve the quality of customs declarations.
Therefore, as from 1 July 2017, Customs Netherlands will reassess all authorisations for the customs representative authorisation and check whether they meet the more extensive and stricter AEO criteria. These concern the administrative organisation, internal processes, solvency, compliance and practical knowledge of the customs representative. The companies concerned have been informed. Following a positive re-assessment, the customs clearance agent authorisation shall be replaced by an authorisation customs representative.
Companies that do not have customs clearance and wish to continue to act as customs representatives have also received a letter. It states that they can apply for authorisation if they meet the detailed AEO criteria.
In the second half of this year, Customs will adjust the AGS declaration system in such a way that direct and indirect representatives can only submit declarations if they have a customs clearance agent or customs representative. Anyone who does not wish to be certified because, for example, he only seldom makes declarations as a representative, must then make his declarations in his own name and on his own account.
Even customs representatives who have an AEO certificate should (space) critically examine their internal procedures and check whether they still meet the criteria! After all, since the entry into force of the EU Customs Code, the criteria have been extended and partly tightened up, and Customs attaches great importance to compliance with the rules on the market in practice.
