Brussels, 09/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - 30 November's Freight Forwarders Day, organised by CLECAT (European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistic and Customs Services) brought together over 120 freight forwarders and Customs officers to discuss secure logistics with a view to giving a harmonised response to a multi-facetted question. The Commission's aim is to assure an appropriate level of security over the entire distribution chain without increasing Customs procedures and weakening existing good relations, said Manuela Cabral, Head of Unit at DG TAXUD (Taxation and Customs Union). The Commission intends to set out inspection standards and risk indicators common to all Member States (and to non-member countries, if possible) and to bring changes to the Community Customs Code (648/2008) by simplifying it. Traders will be required to provide Customs officers with information on goods before they are imported or exported. Secondly, the development of the authorised economic operator (AEO) concept will allow checks to be targeted on operators under suspicion and to give priority status to “trusted” traders. In early 2006, the Commission will present a proposal on secure logistics, based on an integrated approach in line with European Customs procedures, which will treat all forms of transport equally taking into account market realities and, above all considering security as a process of evolution, announced Wolfgang Elsner, Head of Unit at DG TREN. At the end of 2006, the Commission will present elements of an intermodal logistics common policy to assist sustainable economic growth, announced Zoltan Kazatsay, Assistant Director General of DG TREN. Eurocommerce, which represents wholesale and retail traders and international trade, argued in favour of sustainable and efficient logistics, through the promotion of intermodality, urban logistics and free and fair competition. (The Eurocommerce report, “Rethinking transport Policy for More Choice and Sustainability in the EU” is available on: http://www.eurocommerce.be ).