Saint Lucia

7.7 - Authorized operators

Articles	7.7.1 – 7.7.2 (a) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (i), (ii) – 7.7.3 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) – 7.7.4 – 7.7.5 – 7.7.6 View measure text
Indicative date of implementation	31 December 2020
Definitive date of implementation	29 December 2026
Deadline for extension request, if required	31 August 2026
Extension of time	Request received 4 March 2025 Original definitive date 29 June 2025 New date requested 29 June 2027 Date approved 29 December 2026 Reason The Government of Saint Lucia has not been able to secure the necessary technical assistance and capacity building support required for implementation of an Authorized Operators programme. The Government's attempt to identify the necessary support has involved engagement with a few donor development partners with discussions still ongoing. Committee approval: Approved new date Link to notification G/TFA/N/LCA/1/Add.5 Request received 23 August 2023 Original definitive date 29 December 2023 New date requested 29 June 2025 Date approved 29 June 2025 Reason An internal assessment revealed that additional time as well as external support is required for the development and successful roll-out of an Authorized Operator programme. More specifically, the legislative and regulatory framework has to be further developed to take into account new processes and procedures, as well as the need for mutual recognition agreements. External assistance is also required to: (i) build the capacity of customs officials; and (ii) to develop awareness programmes aimed at enhancing the cooperation of potential operators in the sharing of confidential information critical to the process, and to ultimately improve the uptake of the programme. Committee approval: Approved Link to notification G/TFA/N/LCA/1/Add.4
Shift	Shift from Cat. B to Cat. C notification.
Assistance required for implementation	The legislative and regulatory framework has to be further developed to take into account new processes and procedures, as well as the need for mutual recognition agreements. External assistance is also required to: (i) build the capacity of customs officials; and (ii) to develop awareness programmes aimed at enhancing the cooperation of potential operators in the sharing of confidential information critical to the process, and to ultimately improve the uptake of the programme. Tags: Legislative and regulatory framework, Human resources and training, Awareness-raising
Donor / Agency	World Bank
Progress reported	11 December 2025 — G/TFA/N/LCA/5/Rev.1 One of the initiatives currently being pursued by the Customs & Excise Department includes the development and introduction of a Trusted Trader program, as a precursor to the implementation of a more substantial Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Program. To achieve this ambition, Customs and Excise would need to develop a Compliance Strategy and conduct a client segmentation to identify suitable beneficiaries. Technical assistance is therefore required to develop a Policy Framework/Compliance Strategy, to map the process, to set the criteria and conduct Client segmentation (using the management reports generated by ASYCUDA World). Support is also required to develop a sensitization and publicity campaign informing the trading community of this important facilitation measure. (Some of the work on this article may be delivered in conjunction with support activities under article 7.4 Risk Management (see above). It is considered that the current extended definitive date may provide adequate time for alignment.