News2008
KWE Receives Certification as a Specified Bonded Approved Operator 2008/06/09
On May 27, KWE was certified by the Director of the Tokyo Customs Office as a Specified Bonded Approved Operator.
The Specified Bonded Approval Program is one part of the Japanese version of the Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) system that to ensure security and promote efficiency in international trade establishes partnerships between approved corporations and customs offices. Introduced in October 2007, it follows on from the Simplified Declaration System for Importers that was introduced in March 2001, and the Specified Export Declaration System introduced in March 2006. With the introduction in April 2008 of the Certified Customs Agent System and the Specified Bonded Cargo Transport System, the Japanese version of the AEO system continues to expand in terms of both scope and functionality.
Certification as an approved operator under the Specified Bonded Approval Program provides the following three advantages:
| 1) | The ability to establish a bonded storage area under the notification system rather than the license system. |
| 2) | An extension of the license period from 6 to 8 years and: |
| 3) | An exemption from license charges. |
The requirements for certification under this program are that in the 3 years prior to application that the operator has not been in breach of the Customs Law, has established its own in-house regulations to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and has the ability to properly and reliably perform its operations using NACCS.
KWE was able to obtain this certification only by creating detailed in-house systems and supporting documentation processes, passing Customs Office inspections at its head office and each bonded storage area after the final application and being deemed to have implemented a comprehensive legal compliance system.
As a result of this certification, KWE has further improved the quality of its bonded cargo handling operations as well as increased compliance reliability in respect of goods passing through the supply chain.
