Japan-EU AEO mutual recongnition implement on May 24, 2011

On June 24, 2010, Ministry of Finance ("MOF") in Japan announced that Japan and EU signed the Decision establishing mutual recognition of AEO between the EU and Japan.  This mutual recognition offers enhanced trade facilitation opportunities provided by customs to certified AEO traders in both sides who have invested in securing their supply chains.

Now, Japanese MOF and Customs jointly announced that Japan-EU AEO mutual recognition will be implemented on May 24, 2011. 
AEO trader in Japan will be treated as good compliance trader in EU by informing JPN-EU mutual recognition code to their trade counter part in EU.  The benefits would be their goods will go through a so called "green lane" in customs clearance.
Likewise, in order to have mutual recognition benefits in Japan in trade with EU porters, Japanese trader request their JPN-EU mutual recognition code to EU partners, and input the code into NACCS system in customs declaration, will be treated accordingly.  The code is 12 digits number like A1B34567NL00.

(Reference:  http://www.customs.go.jp/zeikan/seido/aeo/leaflet_23-05.pdf )