Belgian importer Special Fruit has gained the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) certificate, a stamp of high standards regarding safety.
As a holder of the certificate, Special Fruit will face fewer document inspections and less risk of theft and loss of goods, and will receive priority treatment during inspections.
According to the importer, this status is only assigned to companies that meet certain criteria with regard to inspection systems, financial solvency and safety standards.
“As an international player in the vegetable and fruits sector we find it an honour to confirm our reliability towards customers and suppliers with a certificate,' said operations director Jef Wouters. 'We are proud to have succeeded in our intention to obtain the certificate, for which I thank all our staff who contributed to this success.'
The AEO certificate was created as a counter-terrorism measure following the 9/11 attacks in New York. It is the European counterpart to the US's C-TPAT.
