Since the disruption caused by Brexit, the customs industry has had to adapt to a constantly changing business environment.
Customs practitioners have always been vital partners to many importers and exporters. With new customs rules and unstable supply chains, having the right intermediary is crucial for many businesses.
The Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade’s launch of an Approved Customs Practitioner (ACP) standard therefore comes at a time when many in the international trading community - including both customs providers and buyers of their services - are facing up to changing market conditions.
Proving quality
The ACP is a new professional standard for the customs industry. Anyone with three years of experience in customs, and membership of the Chartered Institute, can apply.
The standard includes an ethics policy, a commitment to professional development and assessments of practical knowledge: all vital parts of an intermediary’s job role.
Post-Brexit, the role of the customs-intermediary sector was highlighted when a number of traders suddenly faced customs formalities for the first time.
New systems like the Customs Declaration Service, the Border Target Operating Model and Windsor Framework – some of which upended long-standing rules – made this problem even more acute.
‘Mixed’ historical quality
One call for evidence on customs intermediaries found that the quality of service provided across the sector was “mixed”, with many buyers reporting that changes to customs rules meant that some providers lacked the necessary knowledge or training.
Complaints were made about the varying quality of firms, with concerns arising about a few bad actors hurting the image of the industry as a whole.
Since this time, the world has seen profound changes that have changed the way we trade across borders. The war in Ukraine, Trump’s tariffs and shifts in geopolitical alliances all make the role of a customs intermediary more important than ever.
Signalling professionalism
Proving that a person, or an entire company, can be trusted in matters of customs is therefore vital to many customers.
Right now, it’s hard for buyers to tell who is genuinely competent and accountable, says Mark Lamming, a customs consultant at the Chartered Institute and a key figure in launching the ACP.
“Job titles vary, training is uneven and the work has only got more complex. ACP sets a clear, portable bar for individuals.
“It gives companies a simple way to set expectations and gives good practitioners a way to signal professionalism in something other than ‘years served’ on LinkedIn.”
The ACP standard is “essential”, says Dinesh Abeyewickreme, a freight manager at Waterstones.
“It qualifies a person… in terms of practicing the correct method or providing the correct information. For a business, it is essential to know that there is some sort of verification of the person and the advice they provide.”
Avoiding delays
“Incorrect information has led to losses, delays and so many other issues,” Abeyewickreme added.
“For employers, the ACP provides a clear sign of someone’s competence at work. It assures your customers that you have people working for you who know what they’re doing and that they can be trusted not only to act professionally, but also ethically,” says Lamming.
The standard uses exams and written assignments to test competence and applied judgment. It also requires proof of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Ongoing development
This commitment to ongoing development is important. A 'light-touch' approach allows employers and firms to set standards of practice and establish themselves as leading customs providers.
The aim of the ACP, says Lamming, is to provide a tool for customs practitioners to demonstrate their competence, commitment to ethical standards and professionalism.
The ACP’s Code of Ethics includes commitments to integrity, competence, confidentiality, impartiality and accountability. Violation of these terms can result in sanctions, up to the removal of ACP status.
Background
In 2023, the government announced that it would be consulting on a voluntary standard for customs intermediaries.
A public consultation found that most of the industry would prefer a voluntary standard rather than a government-backed regulator.
A consultation was launched this summer (7 August) on the proposed new standard, with comments closing last month.
This voluntary standard is all about how an organisation rules its business, covering many aspects of the standards.
“ACP sits alongside that by focusing on the individual practitioner. In plain English: the voluntary standard says, ‘this firm has good systems,’ Lamming says, ‘this person is tested, ethical and keeps themselves current.’
“Put together, you get system-plus-people assurance, which is what industry actually wants.”
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