Amid growing turbulence in global trade and increasing operational pressures on logistics providers, the British International Freight Association (BIFA) has completed a comprehensive review of its Standard Trading Conditions (STCs) and released a new edition set to take effect from next year.

Adopted by around 1,500 UK freight forwarders, BIFA’s STCs form the contractual backbone of the UK forwarding industry. They define the responsibilities, liabilities, and rights of freight forwarders and their customers, serving as the industry’s most widely used contractual framework.

The newly revised edition marks the most extensive rewrite of the conditions since their original publication in 1988. Developed in response to heightened global supply-chain volatility, evolving commercial practices, and increasing risk exposure across international logistics, the updated STCs will replace the 2021 version from January 1st 2026.

After 31 December 2025, the new edition will become the only version supported by BIFA.

To help members prepare, BIFA has been hosting a series of webinars designed to familiarise freight forwarders with the 2025 conditions. These sessions highlight key changes to clause wording, outline the potential operational and legal impacts on members’ businesses, and explain the correct procedures for incorporating the updated conditions into customer contracts.

Following feedback from recent webinars, BIFA has scheduled one additional and final session. This concluding webinar will take place on Wednesday, 3 December at 3pm, giving members a last opportunity to gain clarity and ensure they are fully ready for the transition before the new conditions go live.

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