The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has launched the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Operational Guidelines, a comprehensive manual designed to help exporters, importers, and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) secure AEO accreditation and benefit from faster, more efficient trade procedures.

AEOs are trusted and accredited businesses that meet customs compliance and security standards, allowing them to enjoy faster cargo clearance, reduced inspections, and other trade facilitation benefits that help streamline import and export processes.

Aligned with the World Customs Organization Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade, the AEO Program offers accredited traders a range of advantages—including streamlined customs processes, shorter clearance times, and mutual recognition arrangements with partner economies. These benefits aim to reduce logistics costs, strengthen supply chain efficiency, and enhance the global competitiveness of Philippine exporters.

According to the document, the 2 October 2025 release of the guidelines “marks a significant step in advancing trade facilitation reforms in alignment with international best practices.” The manual provides detailed instructions for accreditation, clarifies compliance requirements, and serves as a reference for consistent implementation across the BOC’s operations.

Under the AEO Program, traders may qualify for one of three levels of accreditation. Level 1 operators enjoy exemption from accreditation renewal, self-assessment privileges, and access to a dedicated help desk, while Level 2 accreditation adds benefits such as a dedicated processing lane, advance clearance process, periodic lodgment, one-time exemption certificates, and expedited customs clearance for exports. Level 3 members are granted additional privileges as approved by the Customs Commissioner and the Secretary of Finance.

The BOC emphasized the need to develop an AEO scheme tailored for MSMEs, noting that small businesses are “the most vulnerable to unpredictable business climates” and would “benefit immensely not only from trade agreements that remove tariffs and improve market access but also from trade facilitation measures such as expediting cargo clearance processes.”

The guidelines also recommend crafting a specialized AEO framework for e-commerce shipments, given the rapid expansion of cross-border online trade since some current legal and regulatory guidelines might not be compatible with newer e-commerce platforms

Applications for accreditation are now being processed through the AEO Portal on the BOC website, which serves as the central platform for electronic filing and validation. 

The launch of the AEO Operational Guidelines underscores the government’s continuing push to modernize customs systems, simplify documentation, and strengthen the country’s trade competitiveness, reinforcing the Philippines’ position as a trusted and efficient trading hub in the Asia-Pacific region.