Chișinău, 2 October 2025 – The Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova and the National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) have signed a Joint Order to implement new trade facilitation measures for Authorized Economic Operators (AEOs), further streamlining border processes and aligning with European Union (EU) standards.
The agreement, signed by Alexandru Iacub, Director of the Customs Service, and Radu Musteața, General Director of ANSA, marks a major step in strengthening institutional cooperation and modernising Moldova’s trade procedures.
Under the new Joint Order, companies certified as AEOs by the Customs Service will now benefit from priority treatment in their interactions with ANSA—including faster inspections and quicker issuance of permits and certificates. These measures aim to incentivise compliance, accelerate processes for low-risk operators, and create a more predictable and efficient trade environment.
“The signing of this Joint Order is a concrete step toward modernising customs procedures and aligning them with European Union standards. These measures create a more predictable and competitive environment for authorised economic operators, directly supporting the development of legitimate trade and Moldova’s integration into the European market.” said Alexandru Iacub, Director of the Customs Service.
Radu Musteața, General Director of ANSA remarked, “Through this partnership, ANSA reaffirms its commitment to ensuring effective and predictable control while providing favourable conditions for authorised economic operators. Today’s Order strengthens cooperation between state institutions and the business community, benefiting legitimate and safe trade.”
The business community has welcomed the move. Mihai Burunciuc, Policy Manager at AmCham Moldova said, “This Joint Order is a positive step for the business community in Moldova. By simplifying procedures and providing predictability for authorised economic operators, it encourages investment, supports trade facilitation, and strengthens public-private cooperation—key elements for the country’s economic growth and European integration.”
The Alliance, having supported the initiative as part of its ongoing work in Moldova, also applauded the milestone. As stated by Carolina Gargaun, Alliance Project Coordinator, “Trade is a joint responsibility, and this ordinance marks a new level of collaboration between Customs and ANSA — a crucial step toward smoother trade with the European Union. We congratulate both institutions on this important milestone and commend their forward-looking commitment to modernisation.”
Key benefits of the new measures include:
- Priority control and clearance at customs and border inspection posts for AEO-certified companies recognised under mutual recognition agreements with the EU;
- Accelerated issuance of import/export documents required by ANSA;
- Simplified procedures and reduced administrative burdens;
- Enhanced cooperation between public institutions and the private sector, promoting voluntary compliance;
- More efficient use of institutional resources, allowing authorities to focus on higher-risk consignments.
This Joint Order represents a significant step toward harmonising Moldova’s trade ecosystem with EU norms, building on mutual recognition of AEO programmes and enabling trusted traders to integrate more fully into international value chains.
The signing was held within the framework of the Alliance project to enhance trade governance and EU integration in Moldova, funded by Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
