The UK’s biggest independent timber and panel importer, James Latham, has been granted Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status which will help it to weather any Brexit-related trading disruptions which may arise going forward.
 
The AEO is an internationally recognised accreditation awarded by HMRC that places a trusted trader status on an organisation, confirming that its role in the international supply chain is secure and that its customs controls and procedures meet EU standards.
 
As well as enhancing international supply chain security, AEO accreditation assists the movement of legitimate goods across international borders allowing members to enjoy appropriate facilitation on customs clearance.
 
Steve Frommont, Supply Chain Director, Lathams Limited explained, “Achieving AEO status means that we are considered to be a company who has policies and procedures that are thorough and wholly trusted and therefore any hold-ups at customs will be, to some extent, simplified.
 
“One of the key advantages that AEO status affords is that a lot of the paperwork and bureaucracy associated with inbound supply routes will be done at office level rather than when we turn up at the ports with stock, which has to be good news for our customers.”