GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026

General Data Protection Regulation

Freight forwarders, logistics service providers, and customs agents process personal data every day—consignee addresses, shipment details, employee records—making them subject to the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), the EU regulation in force since May 2018.

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Last updated: 26 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32016R0679

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Definition & Explanation

Freight forwarders, logistics service providers, and customs agents process personal data every day—consignee addresses, shipment details, employee records—making them subject to the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), the EU regulation in force since May 2018. Whether acting as data controllers or processors, they must ensure lawful, purpose-limited, and secure processing, observe deletion schedules, and uphold data subject rights including access and erasure. In practice, this means recipient data on transport documents may only be used for delivery purposes, and tracking data must be encrypted in transit and removed after confirmed delivery. The GDPR applies not only to EU-based companies but to any organisation handling data of EU residents, regardless of where it is headquartered.

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