A certification scheme is in development for intermediaries to prove they adhere to the standard and to enable traders to make more informed decisions. The certification scheme is due to be introduced in 12 to 18 months.
Published as a Publicly Available Specification (PAS) on the British Standards Institution (BSI) website on 2 June 2026, the Customs intermediaries: Preparation and submission of customs declarations – specification sets out a shared baseline of good practice covering areas such as due diligence, systems and processes, customer service, transparency, complaints handling and continued professional development.
It is sponsored by HMRC and developed collaboratively with industry representatives and the BSI.
Customs intermediaries play a critical role in the UK’s border and trade system, supporting businesses to meet customs requirements and move goods efficiently. A call for evidence in 2022 and subsequent public consultation in 2023 found that the quality of service across the sector was mixed, prompting the government’s commitment to develop a standard to improve consistency across the sector.
What this means for customs intermediaries
Customs intermediaries are encouraged to:
- use the standard as a benchmark to review systems, processes and customer service
- be open with customers about due diligence — asking for detailed and accurate information is a sign of good practice and supports compliant, high-quality service
- use the standard to demonstrate professionalism and consistency, helping build customer confidence in the level of service they provide
What this means for traders
Benefits and expectations for traders:
- the standard clarifies what good service looks like, helping traders choose and work confidently with a customs intermediary
- traders should expect intermediaries to ask detailed questions about their goods and business — this is intermediaries demonstrating due diligence, ensuring their clients provide accurate information to adhere to customs law
- traders are encouraged to provide accurate information to help avoid errors, support smoother movement of goods across the border and to be compliant
The standard for customs intermediaries does not replace existing authorisations such as Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status, which remains focused on compliance.
Read more information on the standard on:
- the BSI website
- HMRC guidance on Customs intermediaries
Find the full update on gov.uk
