TCP gains AEO certification from the Department of Federal Revenue

TCP gains AEO certification from the Department of Federal Revenue

TCP, the company that manages the Paranaguá Container Terminal, has been an AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) terminal certified by the Department of Federal Revenue since the beginning of December. This means that the Terminal is a low-risk, reliable operator and thus able to offer the benefits offered by Customs to importers and exporters, related to greater agility and predictability in international trade flows.

According to the Department of Federal Revenue, the Authorized Economic Operator is the intervener in a foreign trade operation that carries out international cargo movement and voluntarily meets security criteria applied to the logistics chain or tax and customs obligations. By 2017, there were 73 countries participating in the AEO Security program and another 17 under development.

Anderson Prehs, TCP’s regulatory, stakeholders, and security manager, explains that the certification was a long-term project and involved the entire company. “Our process for AEO certification began in September 2018, with the support of a specialized process review consultancy. The certification application was made in February 2019, followed by the audit of documents, procedures, and all physical facilities and security by the RFB AEO Team, resulting in TCP’s certification earlier this month,” he explains.

To make certification possible, the Terminal spontaneously met all program requirements, revisiting all documentation, processes and physical structures and surveillance. “TCP’s organizational culture had to be adequate to meet all the necessary requirements. The creation of a Risk Management of the terminal’s activities was the main point to acquire the certification, as TCP started to analyze all activities and structured a monitoring routine, as the port operations are dynamic and require the terminal to have risk management culture as a premise for maintaining AEO certification,” he emphasizes.

According to the executive, obtaining certification demonstrates that TCP is a company that spontaneously meets the high levels of compliance and reliability required by the program. “It also contributes to making our customers’ operations more agile and predictable – very important requirements in international trade. Thus, importers, exporters, and other players can count on a port operator recognized for the safety of its operations,” he says.

Prehs also points out that AEO certification should increase TCP’s business, mainly with China. “Last October, Brazil and China signed a customs reciprocity agreement that will directly benefit companies certified by AEO programs in both countries. As China is one of Brazil’s main trading partners and the Terminal being controlled by China Merchants Ports, we believe that cargo movement between these countries should increase,” he concludes.

Further Information

According to the Department of Federal Revenue, the Mutual Recognition Agreement aims to recognize AEO certifications issued by Customs in both countries; priority handling of cargo and reduction of costs associated with storage; reciprocal commitment to the provision of comparable benefits; predictability of transactions; and improving the competitiveness of AEO companies in international trade.

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