Miami – Cooperativa Ceramica d’Imola (CCImola) announced this week that it is the first Italian ceramic tile manufacturer to be awarded the Authorized Economic Operator Full (AEOF) certificate, a certification issued by the European Union (EU) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The AEOF certificate offers important benefits in conducting business overseas and ensures that CCImola follows specific customs procedures efficiently, complying with new security requirements and conducting business while keeping safety first.
“As we continue to build stronger partnerships in the North American market, as well as across the globe, the AEOF certification is one of many steps our team at the corporate level is taking to make sure our customers’ needs are being met,” said Thomas D. Smith, president of CCImola, North America. “With the AEOF certification, product makes it to customers faster and more efficiently, resulting in more dependable lead times for the end user, ultimately having a positive impact on our customers’ business.”
As a value add for customers, the AEOF Certification simplifies CCImola’s custom clearance procedure, reducing wait times and associated costs. The certification encourages a stronger relationship with custom authorities and more efficient internal planning and risk management. In addition, as per the May 4, 2012 treaty ratified between the European Union and the U.S. (effective July 1, 2012), the AEOF certification enables mutual identification with C-TPAT, the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism.