TRANSITION PERIOD FOR AUTOMATED EXPORT SYSTEM (AES) EXTENDED
The European Commission has announced an extension to the transition period for the deployment of the Automated Export System (AES). The revised Implementing Regulation on Technical Arrangements (IRTA) includes a provision allowing Member States additional time to complete their migration from ECS-P2 to AES, with the new deadline set for 14 December 2025. This extends the original transition period, which was due to expire on 11 February 2025, as per the Union Customs Code work programme.
The extension acknowledges that some Member States require more time to finalise their systems and ensure a smooth transition. To facilitate this, the revised IRTA was presented for a vote in the 126th meeting of the Customs Code Committee – 'General Customs Legislation' section on 7 February 2025, where Member States voted in favour of the extension. A positive outcome will require economic operators and national authorities to adjust their systems accordingly within the updated timeline.
Following the vote, the Commission urges all Member States and economic operators to take immediate action to align their systems with the new transition period end date of 14 December 2025. This includes ensuring technical readiness and updating any relevant processes to accommodate the extended timeline.
CLECAT was one of the first European Associations to advocate for this extension in a letter written to the Commission in October 2024. The decision to extend the AES transition period was then finally taken to provide additional flexibility while maintaining the overall objective of streamlining export procedures. DG TAXUD will continue to monitor developments and provide updates through official channels, including the Europa website.
Source: European Commission