Celltrion Receives Highest Grade as First Pharmaceutical Company Awarded Excellence in Import-Export Safety Management

At the 'Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Certification Award Ceremony for Excellent Export-Import Safety Management Companies' held on the 9th at Incheon Main Customs, Yang Hyun-joo, Head of Global SCM Division at Celltrion (left), and Kim Yoon-sik, Commissioner of Incheon Main Customs, are posing for a commemorative photo. (Provided by Celltrion)

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] Celltrion has received the highest grade in the export-import safety management certification audit for the first time in the pharmaceutical industry.

On the 9th, Celltrion announced that it received the industry’s highest grade ‘AAA’ certificate at the export-import safety management excellent company (AEO) certification award ceremony hosted by the Korea Customs Service. The award ceremony held at the Incheon Main Customs Office was attended by Yang Hyun-joo, Head of Celltrion Global SCM Headquarters, and Kim Yoon-sik, Commissioner of Incheon Main Customs Office, among others.

AEO is an internationally recognized certification system authorized by the Korea Customs Service based on the World Customs Organization (WCO) standards for export-import supply chain safety management, evaluating compliance with laws, internal control systems, financial soundness, and adequacy of safety management. Currently, 83 countries worldwide have adopted and operate this system.

Companies selected as excellent are provided with various conveniences such as simplified customs inspections and administrative procedures, and reduced financial burdens through mutual recognition agreements that grant customs benefits agreed upon by the trading countries.

As of February, a total of 846 companies in Korea have received AEO certification. Among them, only 16 companies, including Celltrion, have received the highest AAA grade in the export-import sector. Notably, Celltrion is the first in the domestic pharmaceutical industry to receive the AAA grade.

A Celltrion official stated, “Through the highest grade AEO certification, the first in the pharmaceutical industry, we have confirmed trust in Celltrion’s export-import goods management system,” and added, “We will continue to strictly comply with export-import safety management regulations and enhance our global export-import competitiveness to further accelerate overseas exports of biopharmaceuticals.”