SEKO gains EU Customs accreditation
20 / 03 / 2015
IRELAND is the latest country in SEKO Logistics’ European network to achieve full certification as an Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), writes Nigel Tomkins, managing director.
The accreditation, issued by EU Customs administrators, certifies that a business meets the required standards in relation to its security and management systems, and is a compliant operator in international trade.
SEKO Logistics’ operations in the Netherlands and Denmark are already AEO-approved, and France and Germany will be next, as part of the company’s target to gain the status in all EU countries.
Martin Cunningham, who established SEKO Logistics in Ireland with business partner Terry Allen in 2007, believes that Customs and revenue compliance is a critical element of the delivery process. “AEO certification provides the assurance that SEKO is not only delivering a fast and reliable service but also one that is fully Customs- and revenue-compliant.”
SEKO was one of the first two freight companies to participate in the USA’s Transportation Security Administration’s Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) programme.
This experience has enabled its compliance team to have a direct impact on how the programme is designed and implemented, and to be part of the dialogue between industry and Customs officials.
In March, SEKO MedTec Solutions, which focuses on the medical and technology sectors, announced the opening of a new European Control Center in Galway, Ireland, to spearhead its expansion in the US$500 billion medical device market.
