HMRC Launches the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Customs Technical Handbook

BY:

Gail Leeson
24 July 2025

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HMRC has published the latest addition to its suite of Customs Technical Handbooks, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Customs Technical Handbook, on 23 July 2025.

The Authorised Economic Operator Customs Technical Handbook is now available on the Customs Technical Handbooks landing pages.


The handbook is designed to support AEO applicants in understanding their responsibilities as AEOs and to clarify the obligations of an economic operator to the UK AEO Programme.



The AEO Customs Technical Handbook can be found at the link below:
 Customs Technical Handbook - Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) - Guidance - GOV.UK

 

The technical handbook landing page, giving access to other published technical handbooks, is at the link below:

 

Customs Technical Handbooks - GOV.UK

Focus On: AEO and Trusted Trader Scheme

This presentation focusses on what the HMRC Authorised Economic Operator Status accreditation is, but more importantly, examines whether being an AEO will benefit your own organisation or if staying outside the AEO system will have a detrimental effect on your business. AEO status was introduced in the EU in 2008 and is now part of UK legislation and will be linked to the new border management system coming into force the Trusted Trader Scheme.

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