Company Trading Conditions
We trade under the BIFA Standard Trading Conditions (latest 2025 edition).
The full terms can be accessed here: Download Full BIFA 2025 STC (PDF). Please note that the text below is provided as a summary for your convenience.
BRITISH INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT ASSOCIATION (BIFA) STANDARD TRADING CONDITIONS 2025 EDITION. THESE CONDITIONS CONTAIN PROVISIONS WHICH EXCLUDE OR LIMIT THE COMPANY'S LIABILITY (CLAUSE 26) AND REQUIRE THE CUSTOMER TO INDEMNIFY THE COMPANY (CLAUSE 20) AND WHICH PROVIDE TIME LIMITS FOR BRINGING CLAIMS (CLAUSE 27). These conditions are the intellectual property of the British International Freight Association (BIFA) and are solely for the use by current BIFA members.
DEFINITIONS AND APPLICATION 1 In these Conditions the following words shall have the following meanings:- "Company" the BIFA member trading under these Conditions; "Consignee" the Person to whom the Goods are consigned; "Customer" any Person at whose request or on whose behalf the Company provides advice, information or Services; "Goods" any goods which are the subject of Services provided by the Company; "Owner" the owner of the Goods or Transport Unit and any other Person who is or may become interested in them; "Person" natural person(s) or any body or bodies corporate; "SDR" are Special Drawing Rights as defined by the International Monetary Fund; "Services" all activities undertaken, offered or procured by the Company in the course of its business; "Transport Unit" packing case, pallets, container, trailer, tanker, or any other device used for storage or carriage.
2 (A) Subject to sub-clause (B) below, all Services are undertaken subject to these Conditions. (B) If any legislation is compulsorily applicable to any Services, these Conditions shall be read as subject to such legislation.
3 The Customer warrants that they are either the Owner, or are authorised by the Owner to contract for the Owner on the terms of these Conditions.
THE COMPANY
4 Subject to clauses 11 and 12, the Company shall be entitled to procure Services as an agent for the Customer, or provide Services as a principal.
5 When the Company contracts as a principal, it shall have full liberty to perform such Services itself, or to subcontract on any terms whatsoever.
6 The Company has complete discretion as to the means, route and procedure to be followed in the performance of any Services.
7 (A) When acting as an agent, the Company is entitled to enter into contracts on behalf of the Customer on necessary or desirable terms. (B) Upon request, the Company shall provide evidence of any contract entered into as agent for the Customer.
8 (A) In dealings with HM Revenue & Customs: (i) the Customer empowers the Company to act as a direct customs agent where permitted under the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018; (ii) in all other cases, the Customer empowers the Company to act as an indirect customs agent.
9 (A) The Company has a general lien on all Goods and documents for all sums due. Storage charges shall continue to accrue on any Goods detained under lien. (ii) The Company is entitled, on at least 7 days' notice, to sell or dispose of Goods to pay sums due. (B) When Goods are liable to perish or deteriorate, the right to sell arises immediately upon any sum becoming due.
10 The Company is entitled to retain all brokerages, commissions, and other remunerations customarily paid to freight forwarders.
11 (A) No insurance will be arranged by the Company unless instructions are given in writing and accepted. (B) When arranging insurance, the Company acts as agent for the Customer.
LIABILITY AND LIMITATION
26 (A) The Company's liability shall not exceed (i) for loss or damage to Goods, the lesser of the value of the Goods or 2 SDR per kilo of the gross weight. (ii) In the case of all other claims, the lesser of the value of the loss, 2 SDR per kilo of the weight, or 75,000 SDR. (C) The Company shall not be liable for direct or indirect loss of profit, revenue, or consequential loss.
27 (A) Claims must be made in writing within 14 days of the date the Customer became aware of the occurrence. (B) The Company is discharged of all liability unless suit is brought within nine months from the date the Goods were delivered (or intended for delivery).
JURISDICTION AND LAW
28 (A) These Conditions shall be governed by English law. (B) Disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts. (D) The Company is entitled to require any dispute to be determined by arbitration in accordance with LMAA Procedures.
