Centralised Clearance is a procedure under the Union Customs Code (UCC, Art. 179) allowing an economic operator to lodge customs declarations at the customs office in their country of establishment, even when goods are physically located in another EU Member State. For example, an Italian company can clear goods in Milan that physically arrive in Rotterdam or Hamburg, without appointing a customs representative in the Netherlands or Germany. Requirements: AEO-C status (Authorised Economic Operator – Customs Simplifications); compatible IT systems; authorisation from the supervisory customs office. Key advantages: 1) Cost reduction — one customs broker handles all operations, eliminating the need for representatives in each country of entry; 2) Administrative simplification — a single customs interface instead of multiple contacts across countries; 3) Speed — goods are released faster as declarations can be lodged before physical arrival; 4) Control — the company maintains full oversight from one location; 5) Consistency — same interpretive rules and tariff classification for all imports. Best suited for: companies importing regularly into multiple EU countries (distribution chains, manufacturers with facilities across countries, e-commerce with multiple warehouses); businesses with significant volumes (AEO-C accreditation costs are offset by high transaction volumes); companies with structured in-house customs departments. For Switzerland: as a non-EU country, Swiss companies cannot directly access EU centralised clearance, but can benefit indirectly through EU-based subsidiaries or partners. Franzosini, with offices in Italy, France, Germany and the UK, can manage centralised clearance for clients operating within the EU, providing a single point of contact for all European customs operations. 2026 update: the EU customs reform approved in March 2026 further expanded centralised clearance possibilities, aiming to make it the standard procedure by 2032, coordinated by the new EUCA (EU Customs Authority).