Europe Security Information

Trusted and reliable - Hapag-Lloyd AG has been a certified AEO since 25 July 2008. The creation of the AEO-Concept is one of the main elements of the security amendment of the Community Customs Code. It aims at heightening security along the international supply chain.

An AEO is a party involved in the international movement of goods. The national customs administration acknowledges him.

Hapag-Lloyd AG is holder of the AEO-Certificate “Customs Simplifications / Security and Safety”. The AEO-Status entitles us to benefits in the course of customs clearance.

Our AEO certification is also valid for our offices in Belgium, Netherlands and Denmark being branches of the Hapag-Lloyd AG.

Hapag-Lloyd subsidiaries in France and Italy have also obtained the AEO status.

Please find below respective AEO-Certificates.

EU inbound and outbound cargo are subject to customs risk assessment.

Inbound: Entry Summary Declaration = ENS
Outbound: Exit Summary Declaration = EXS

ENS: 24 hours prior to loading in a non-EU load port Hapag-Lloyd must submit entry summary declarations for all cargo moving under a Hapag-Lloyd B/L or Sea Waybill to the responsible EU customs office of entry.

EXS: Under the terms of Regulation 1875/2006 ocean carriers are required to file exit summary declarations for cargo for which an export customs declaration or transit declaration has not been filed by the exporter or its agent.

Electronical lodgment of ENS has been mandatory since 31 December 2010.

Detailed information regarding ENS is available. Please click on the tab FAQ EU 24 Hour Rule.

For any further questions please contact your local Hapag-Lloyd sales office.

The European advance cargo security provisions (Commission Regulation 1875/2006) have been in effect since 31 December 2010 making the lodgement of entry and exit summary declarations a requirement.

Guidelines for acceptable and non-acceptable cargo descriptions were developed by the EU Commission and are applied by the EU Member States already.

The usage of non-acceptable cargo descriptions will result in customs inspections and examinations which might cause delays.

Since the cargo description used for submissions to customs is taken from the Bill of Lading, we ask you to use only acceptable cargo descriptions within your Shipping Instructions.

Attached you find a list of examples of unacceptable and acceptable descriptions of goods.

For all DG shipments affected by the European 24h security initiative (EU-AIS),  structured shipping instructions with separated DG and non DG cargo description and weights are required.

Please find further information and examples in our customer letter: