Nippon Express becomes first company in Japan approved as a Japanese version of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) under Specified Bonded Approval Program

On January 23, 2008 Nippon Express became the first company in Japan to be approved under the Specified Bonded Approval Program, receiving an official letter of approval from the Director of the Tokyo Customs Office.

The Specified Bonded Approval Program went into force in October 2007 as a Japanese version of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) system (a system designed to ensure both the security and efficiency of international logistics through partnerships between private companies and customs offices), following introduction of a simplified declaration system for importers (in effect from March 2001) and a specified export declaration system for exporters (in effect from March 2006). The parties approved under this program will be permitted to establish new bonded storage areas through notification rather than licensing and otherwise receive preferential treatment.

The application qualifications/requirements for the Specified Bonded Approval Program are (1) the applicant must have held a license for a bonded storage area for at least three years and must have had no Customs Law violations during the three years preceding application, (2) the applicant must have established compliance rules pertaining to the storage of foreign cargo in order to comply with the provisions of the Customs Law and other relevant laws/regulations, and (3) the applicant must be able to perform operations properly and reliably using NACCS.

Nippon Express became the first company in Japan approved under the Specified Bonded Approval Program after Customs screening deemed its bonded operations management satisfactory. Nippon Express will leverage this approval to maintain and improve the precision of its bonded operations, to implement more thoroughgoing compliance management, and to contribute to the international operations of its customers.