The AEO certificate "Customs Simplifications" (AEO C) was issued by the main customs office in Dortmund.

The aim of the certificate is to secure the end-to-end international supply chain from the manufacturer of a product to the end consumer. A company that has AEO status is considered to be particularly reliable and trustworthy and can benefit from special customs clearance privileges.

"Applying for the certificate was very labour-intensive and time-consuming. But the effort was worth it, because AEO status really does make things a lot easier for us," says Robert Daitschmann, Head of Purchasing and Logistics at the Masterflex Group. Among other things, goods and documents are checked less frequently or are prioritised. Masterflex only has to submit a reduced number of data records for pre-notifications.

These advantages also benefit the customers of the globally active hose and connection specialist in Gelsenkirchen: "AEO status is not only a quality feature, it also speeds up and simplifies customs clearance considerably and therefore offers our customers real added value," says Daitschmann.

The authorisation of AEO status is linked to extensive requirements in terms of reliability, compliance with relevant legislation and demonstration of secure internal processes. Furthermore, certain security standards must be met in the areas of computer systems and data security.

The certificate is an important element of the EU security concept. The status of "Authorised Economic Operator" is valid in all member states and is not limited in time. Within the Masterflex Group, it only applies to the Masterflex brand.