BIFA History
Paving the way for BIFA: The Institute of Freight Forwarders Robert Keen , immediate past director general of BIFA, delves into the archives to report on a signi fi cant milestone in the evolution of BIFA and the individuals who steered events
D ecember 2024 sees the 80th anniversary of the formal incorporation of the Institute of Shipping and Forwarding Agents (ISFA) which, in 1970 became the Institute of Freight Forwarders (IFF), from where BIFA emerged in the late 1980s. At BIFA, there are many Institute publications and items of memorabilia that have assisted me in researching the history of the past 80 years. Representative trade bodies have existed for centuries with guilds, livery companies, trade unions, etc, and whilst it is likely that freight forwarders’ organisations existed earlier, there are no formal records prior to 1897 when the London Shipping and Forwarding Agents Conference was constituted as a body to represent freight forwarders. During 1943, a process began to form a professional body from the port forwarder communities of Liverpool, London, Manchester, Southampton, Bristol, Glasgow and
“ A key goal of the new Institute was to raise the status of shipping and forwarding agents and their staff
Hull. The Institute of Shipping & Forwarding Agents (ISFA) was formally registered on 19 December 1944 to act as a body representing the general interests of all agents throughout the UK. Great foresight From the early days, the Institute showed great foresight in identifying a need for standard terms and conditions that would protect the shipping and forwarding agent. The establishment, maintenance and continuing development of the BIFA Standard Trading Conditions is a fundamental reason for the success of the Institute and its successor BIFA. Another key goal of the new Institute was to raise the status of shipping and forwarding agents and their staff. An early initiative was licensing, but unlike professions
12 | December 2024
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