CLECAT ADDRESSES CUSTOMS REFORM AT HIGH-LEVEL INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS
CLECAT took part in the International Congress on “International Customs Cooperation in the Digital Age,” held on 19 June during the 2025 edition of the Salón Internacional de la Logística (SIL) in Barcelona. The event was organised by the Consejo General de Agentes de Aduanas and brought together high-level speakers, including representatives from the Spanish Customs Administration, the World Customs Organization (WCO), the European Commission, and key stakeholders from across the international customs and logistics community.
Speaking on behalf of CLECAT, Nicolette van der Jagt shared the views of freight forwarders and customs agents on the ongoing EU Customs Reform. She underlined that while digitalisation is a central pillar of modern customs management, the notion that customs clearance can simply be handled “via an app” is misleading. Customs procedures involve complex legal obligations, which require professional knowledge and judgement – particularly when it comes to compliance with the growing list of non-fiscal regulations enforced at the border.
A key message from CLECAT was the need to protect the role of customs representatives in the reform process. The association reiterated that customs intermediaries - who act on the instructions of their clients and do not control the goods or data provided - cannot be held liable for non-fiscal obligations, such as product safety or environmental compliance, particularly in cases of fraud or misdeclaration by the importer. Without clear legal safeguards, the proposed shift towards indirect representation would place untenable risks on customs agents and reduce access to customs simplifications for thousands of SMEs across Europe.
The event also featured a clear call from the European Commission, represented by Javier Campillo Albaladejo (DG TAXUD), for greater coherence in customs legislation and more inclusive stakeholder consultation. CLECAT echoed this message, emphasising the importance of involving trade representatives early in the legislative process and ensuring that reforms work in practice, not just on paper.