Thai AEO & MRA (2/2)

CBRA carried out an AEO&MRA study for the Royal Thai Customs during 2012-13. It becomes public this week. Here is part 2/2 of the key results.

Linked to the seventh AEO recommendation (in blog part 1/2), the second research question for this study was: How to proactively prepare for future AEO Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) negotiations, particularly with the EU? Below is the recommendation list with ten main action points:

1. Ensure clear high-level commitment to building a co-operative partnership, within RTC, as well as Thai government; this includes early on allocation of adequate human and financial resources for all stages of the MRA negotiation process.
2. According to the SAFE Framework demonstrate implementation of a Customs-to-Business programme along with the five main elements of the Customs-to-Customs pillar.
3. Establish a framework for a legally binding MRA between RTC and EU.
4. Provide more detailed guidance on what would be recognised as appropriate security measures to counter and combat different risks and threats; and examine the possible alignment of the methodology used for risk assessment of AEO applicants with that of the EU’s AEO COMPACT MODEL FOR RISK ASSESSMENT
5. Consider if the Thai AEO reference (identifier) structure might be aligned with that of the EU’s EORI in order to aid the identification and sharing of benefits offered to Thai AEO exporter companies trading with the EU.
6. Provide more details regarding revocation and suspensions: in particular, relating to an appeals process and timeframes for the AEO to remedy any deficiencies which give rise to the need for a suspension of the status, and the intended process of timely communication of revocations and suspensions to the MRA signatories.
7. Make preparations to receive EU customs officials visiting Thailand, RTC and selected AEOs and applicants; and, make preparations for visiting EU customs authorities, and select AEOs and applicants in Thailand for EU customs officials to visit (in order to show how an audit is carried out, in different conditions, for different types of business; and to see what security measures AEOs have in place and ensure they are being maintained, reviewed and improved as required; and to see the management structures, contingency plans, etc.).
8. Prepare to provide full transparency on all processes and procedures (the application and authorisation processes and procedures, auditing, validation, monitoring and AEO status-refusal/removal processes and procedures, data requirements, storage, monitoring and data security, approval process for trade facilitation benefits and customs simplified procedures).
9. Prepare for signing of an MRA.
10. Make provision of resource to maintain the representation of RTC within the Joint Customs Co-operation Committee (JCCC) and other communication channels with EU customs officials.

… you can find the full report downloadable from our web-site, by Sunday this week: www.cross-border.org