Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co., Ltd. announced on February 2 that it was granted the "Authorized Logistics Operator" status on November 19, 2014, by Tokyo Customs under the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program.  

-- Under the AEO program aimed at ensuring security and facilitating clearance procedures in  international physical distribution, operators qualified as those meeting cargo security and compliance requirements are authorized by the relevant customs superintendent to undergo easier and simplified access to customs clearance procedures.

-- Nishi-Nippon Railroad was granted AEO's "Authorized Warehouse Operator" status in January 2009 and "Authorized Customs Broker" in February 2011. With the latest addition of the "Authorized Logistics Operator" status, the company now has all of the three AEO qualifications granted to logistics operators. We are the fourth company and the first air freight forwarder in Japan with all of the three statuses granted.

-- The company will continue with proactive business development in every major city of the world, providing comprehensive high-quality and value-added physical distribution logistics services.

About AEO's "Authorized Logistics Operator" status granted to Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co., Ltd.:Date of qualification: November 19, 2014

Other statuses and qualification dates:

"Authorized Warehouse Operator" on January 19, 2009

"Authorized Customs Broker" on February 14, 2011

About Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program:

The program is designed to ensure security and facilitate clearance procedures in international physical distribution. Operators qualified as those meeting cargo security and compliance requirements are subject to easier and simplified access to customs clearance procedures.  

AEO program and its merits:

* The asterisk (*) shows the AEO status granted to our company.

(1) Authorized Warehouse Operator* (status granted in January 2009)

This is an operator of bonded warehouses recognized to have an established system of ensuring cargo security and compliance. The operator may establish bonded warehouses only through notification to the customs superintendent and is exempted from a warehouse licensing fee.

(2) Authorized Customs Broker* (status granted in February 2011)

Customs brokers recognized to have an established system of ensuring cargo security and compliance can make import declarations for duty payments after picking up cargo consigned by importers (Authorized Delegated Import Clearance Program). Authorized customs brokers can also obtain export permission for cargo consigned by exporters and placed outside bonded areas on condition that authorized logistics operators transport the consignment (Authorized Delegated Export Clearance Program).   

(3) Authorized Logistics Operator* (status granted in November 2014)

Authorized logistics operators are exempted from customs approval for bonded transportation and can directly transport export cargo to the port of loading from outside bonded areas.  

(4) Authorized Importer

Customs examinations and inspections for duty payments are exempted for importers recognized to have an established system of ensuring cargo security and compliance, and declarations for duty payments can be made after picking up cargo.  

(5) Authorized Exporter

Exporters recognized to have an established system of ensuring cargo security and compliance can realize swift and smooth cargo lading by not having to bring export cargo into bonded areas and can obtain export permission while keeping the cargo at their own facilities. Customs examinations and inspections are exempted for such exporters.  

(6) Authorized Manufacturer

Manufacturers recognized to have an established system of ensuring cargo security and compliance can facilitate swift and smooth lading by, when customs procedures are undertaken by exporters other than manufacturers, seeking export permission without having to bring cargo into bonded areas.

For more information on the Japanese customs system, please visit the website

( http://www.customs.go.jp/english/index.htm )

About international physical distribution business of the Nishi-Nippon Railroad group  

Headquarters: 2-5 Nihombashi 3-chome, Chuo Ward, Tokyo

Established: November 15, 1948

Lines of business:  

- Air cargo agent   

- Comprehensive international transportation (air and marine)   

- Customs clearance   

- Logistics

Operating revenue: 76,642 million yen (fiscal 2013 record)   

Freight handled (for export): 112,820 tons (fiscal 2013 record)

Business bases: 95 cities in 24 countries and regions (as of December 2014)