The Panamanian law defines the customs broker agent as an auxiliary of customs public management and establishes a series of essential requirements in order to opt for the license that provides the suitability and access to the customs computer system, which include, among others, having a Degree in Public Customs Administration.

It is also established as the only one authorized by the panamanian customs authority (Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas) to act on behalf of third parties, before any office in the country, in the preparation, endorsement and processing of customs destinations, as well as to carry out the related procedures concerning these.

However, over the years we have seen an increase in companies that are not suitable, that promote themselves as a logistics company and include customs brokerage services, which represents a risk for the importer, since, as we have seen, it is established by law that the customs broker are the only authorized. What these people do is subcontract the services of a customs broker to offer a single package to their clients.

However, as a first point, it is prohibited by law to advertise customs broker services to any company that does not have a suitable Customs Broker as its legal representative, who signs the procedures. In addition, the issue of legal responsibility for the tariffs assigned to the merchandise, of the permits that apply according to the type of merchandise, as well as keeping accounting and archiving control of the declarations that are made, is essential.

For example, if you have a capacity discrepancy or any issue related to the permits of the merchandise you are processing; or if you hire X company, but it is not empowered by law to act on your behalf, so it hires a third party that you do not know, you will not have control and you will not be able to claim civilly or criminally if applicable to this person, since you do not have a commercial relationship with it, but with the intermediary.

This situation also occurs with some brokers who are marketed as customs brokers without being and it is even more dangerous as they do not even have commercial legal stability to back it up.

Using a customs broker directly represents great benefits for companies, which among others, we can mention: The legal certainty of having a suitable person to carry out your procedures; the customs broker is a person who must be in constant training, and more now with so many commercial changes worldwide; the confidentiality regarding the documents that the customs broker must keep is important because, have in mind, your trade secrets must be guarded with great suspicion and always verify who is the person who handles your information and how they handle it; creates an environment of trust where you can even improve your logistics by knowing better all the edges that may arise in the development of operations concerning your merchandise.

With Logistics & Customs Services, S.A., you can have the security and peace of mind that we comply with all the requirements established by Law as Customs Brokers legally established in the Republic of Panama, the legal representative being Magister Lizbeth De La Cruz, with License #340 and Graduated Stephanie Monterrey, General Secretary, with License #856. We also have the legal support of the firm CLICA to attend to all your queries and advice on international business and customs.