Dubai Customs adopts global standard to facilitate trade

Dubai Customs has adopted a certification that complies with international security standards to facilitate trade.

The agency said it was among the first organisation in the Middle East to acquire the Authorized Economic Operator status, which complies with the World Customs Organization’s security rules.

Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, the director of Dubai Customs, said that compliant partners would benefit from simplified customs procedures in terms of controlling safety and security. They include pre-arrival shipment clearance, a preferential customs treatment, and customs advice upon request.

However, to attain such benefits, partners are required to undergo auditing by the customs authority to verify their compliance with the World Customs Organization’s rules.

The customs authority also needs to ensure the availability of technological resources that can accommodate the volume of operations of a prospective partner.

“The Authorized Economic Operator will grant us a bundle of benefits, including a higher predictability of the global supply chain, which aids in better planning and management of the supply chain logistics,” said Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the chairman of DP World and the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation.

“It will also reduce physical and documentary controls, ultimately leading to the simplification of procedures and smooth trading.”

As global trade grows, security threats have became more prominent amid the international movement of goods.

That is spurring customs authorities to ensure the security of international trade besides merely focusing on traditional tasks such as collecting customs duties.

In June 2005, the World Customs Organization adopted the Safe framework of standards to facilitate global trade.

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