Supporting the Development of New Standards for Customs Intermediaries
As part of ongoing efforts to raise standards across the customs sector, HMRC is working with BSI (the UK’s National Standards Body) to introduce a new voluntary specification for customs intermediaries. The aim is to improve service quality across the industry and provide greater clarity for those engaging with customs service providers.
The specification is being developed as a Publicly Available Specification (PAS), setting out clear requirements that organisations can choose to adopt. This will help businesses better understand the level of service they can expect when working with a customs intermediary.
Development of the PAS is being guided by a steering group made up of sector specialists. George Baker Shipping is pleased to contribute to this group, offering our perspective as part of a collaborative effort to establish good practice across the industry.
Work on the PAS is progressing well, and attention is now turning to the public consultation phase, scheduled for August–September 2025. This stage will give stakeholders the opportunity to review the draft document and share their views before it is finalised.
Businesses that rely on customs intermediaries are encouraged to get involved. Selected stakeholders will be invited to join the Review Panel and provide feedback during the consultation period, helping to shape a specification that supports greater consistency, transparency, and trust across the sector.
How George Baker Shipping Can Help
At George Baker Shipping, we are committed to driving up standards across the industry while continuing to support our customers through every stage of the customs process. Our experienced team stays ahead of regulatory developments to help ensure your goods move smoothly, efficiently, and compliantly.
If you’d like to learn more about the upcoming PAS for customs intermediaries and its potential impact on your business, our consultancy team is happy to help.
