7th July 2026 – New good practice requirements for customs intermediaries have been issued. PAS 41201 supports smooth global trade through establishing a benchmark of effective, transparent and trusted relationships between customs intermediaries and their clients.
Customs intermediaries — Preparation and submission of customs declarations — Specification (PAS 41201:2026) has been published by BSI, the UK national standards body. While the EU Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme provides a recognized framework for organizations engaged in international trade, PAS 41201 is the first standard to establish a specification for customs intermediaries. It sets out good practice to help this group understand the level of service expected of them, giving traders greater confidence when selecting and working with an intermediary to support the movement of goods.
The standard was developed in response to feedback gathered through an HMRC public call for evidence. The feedback revealed broad industry support for raising quality, consistency and confidence in customs intermediary services and enhancing professionalism. This demonstrated a clear demand for a shared understanding of what good practice looks like across the sector.
Developed by BSI with input from UK stakeholders, the PAS can be relevant globally to any customs intermediary, including customs agents, customs brokers, express operators, fast parcel operators and sole traders, who can adopt PAS 41201’sprovisionsand good practice tailored specifically to customs declaration services.
In addition, the standard can serve as a reference point for traders, freight forwarders and cargo and logistics operators:
- Traders can use awareness of PAS 41201 requirements to make more informed decisions when engaging intermediaries to better understand the level of service and transparency they should expect.
- Freight forwarders can use the standard as a reference point for engaging with customs intermediary services and supporting consistency across customer delivery.
- Cargo and logistics operators can use the requirements set out in PAS 41201 to strengthen coordination across supply chains and support more reliable customs processes.
Anne Hayes, Director of Sectors and Standards Development, BSI said: “At a time when businesses continue to navigate increasingly complex trading environments, customs intermediaries play an essential role in enabling goods to move efficiently and compliantly across borders. Greater expectations around accountability, digital capability and service transparency have increased the need for a clear framework that helps define consistent levels of professional practice across the sector. The new PAS 41201 has been developed to help businesses meet this need.”
The standard is already receiving industry backing. The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has welcomed publication of PAS 41201 and adopted the standard as an important step towards strengthening professionalism, consistency and confidence across customs intermediary services.
BSI has a long history of supporting work to simplify supply chains and enable seamless global trade. While cargo arrival at ports is only one link in the chain, this moment can open companies up to a multitude of risks, from loss to theft or tampering. Equally, speedy processing is vital in our ‘just in time’ system, particularly for perishable goods.
Access the standard here.
