A customs agent (or customs intermediary) handles customs processes on your behalf -often alongside freight forwarders or express operators, so goods can clear faster and more predictably.
HMRC’s guidance (the UK’s tax, payment and customs authority) is explicit on the mechanics: whoever you appoint cannot act for you without written instructions, and your agreement must confirm whether they act directly or indirectly. And even if you outsource the work, you still remain responsible for due diligence on your customs declarations.
In France, there is another practical check to make before appointing a customs agent. A provider carrying out customs representation for clients must be registered as a Représentant en Douane Enregistré (RDE). Since 2018, this registration has been required for operators acting in either direct or indirect customs representation. Asking a prospective provider to confirm its RDE status therefore helps verify that it is registered with French Customs to handle customs formalities on behalf of third parties.
That may sound administrative, but according to Jamie O’Reilly; Managing Director UK/ Ireland at BBL Group: “What most companies say to us is that the EU is just too hard to trade with. (…) But when you have the right partnership at the right borders, we can make trade a lot easier.”
The idea is simple: place customs professionals where the pressure is highest – at the entry and exit points – and you reduce the risk of disruption.
The benefit becomes even clearer when you consider how variable clearance can be. UK customs clearance can take from minutes to weeks, depending on volumes and how well documentation is organised*. In other words, smooth trade is often less about luck and more about preparation, coordination and who is managing the border process.
Source: *AIT Worldwide Logistics
