Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade Customs Practice director, Anna Doherty, reacts to the news that the British Standards Institution (BSI) has released the new standard for customs intermediaries.
"In an increasingly complex customs environment, PAS 41201 sets out a practical and credible benchmark for consistent quality in customs declaration services, which will help facilitate smoother cross-border trade and therefore support efforts to grow the UK economy.
"By setting clear expectations for due diligence, training, systems and transparency, the standard supports the consistent, high-quality submission of customs declarations and reinforces the critical role intermediaries play in enabling compliant and efficient international trade.
"Its focus on governance, data integrity and transparent client engagement will be key to helping UK businesses manage risk, improve compliance and keep goods moving efficiently through the border."
Chartered Institute professional practices director, Kevin Shakespeare, was the technical author of the standard.
The full document can be viewed here.
Background
In February 2022, the government published a ‘Call for Evidence: An Independent Customs Regime’, which included a chapter seeking industry views on the customs intermediary sector.
A summary of responses was published in July, with industry by-and-large calling for a voluntary standard rather than a government-backed regulator.
At the Spring Budget 2023, then-chancellor Jeremy Hunt set out a package of measures to simplify import and export processes, including a consultation on introducing a standard for customs intermediaries with the aim of improving the quality of the service for the overall sector.
The responses to the consultation were published in December 2023 and the work on the standard began in 2024 when HMRC appointed British Standards Institution (BSI) to develop a Publicly Accessible Specification (PAS).
To ensure that the PAS meets the requirements of the industry, HMRC and BSI formed a Steering Group. The Chartered Institute, as well as other leading trade associations, and representatives from trade, were part of this group and helped shape this PAS.
Any traders or intermediaries looking for assistance in achieving this new standard can get in touch with the Chartered Institute's Advisory Service team.
