AEO Certificate Validity Extended to 30 Sept 2020 (Certificates Expired/Expiring between 1 Mar 2020 and 30 Sept 2020)

[Circular No. 31/2020- Customs dated 30 June 2020]

Subject:- Extension of validity of AEO certification for ease of renewal process (Modification in Circular No. 27/2020 dated 02.06.2020).

1. Reference is drawn to Para 5.1 Circular No. 33/2016-Customs dated 22.07.2016 amended vide Para viii of Circular 03/2018-Customs dated 17.01.2018, which relates to "Validity of AEO Certificate" and reads as -

"The validity of AEO certificate shall be three years for AEO-T1 and AEO-T2, and five years for AEO-T3 and AEO-LO"

2. Representations have been received by the field formations regarding the difficulties being faced by the AEO entities in renewing their existing certifications owing to the national lockdown. References for extension has also been received from few entities as well.

3. Accordingly, the Board has decided to extend the validity of all the AEO certificates expired/expiring between 01.03.2020 and 30.09.2020 to 30.09.2020 except for those entities against which a negative report is received during this period. Accordingly, Circular No. 27/2020 dated 02.06.2020 stands modified as above.

4. Wide publicity may be given to this Circular by way of issuance of Trade/Public Notice.

Difficulties, if any, in the implementation of this Circular may·be brought to the notice of this office.

F.No. D-20/DIC/AE0/16/2017