All EU-based economic operators will be able to opt for AEO status with effect from 1 January 2008. The AEO status will be open to all the links in the supply chain, i.e. manufacturers, exporters, forwarding agents, bonded-warehousing companies and importers.

Three categories of AEO status will be available, which are:

• AEO Customs Simplifications
• AEO Security and Safety
• A combination of these two categories