EU's new Import Control System 2 (ICS2) - Release 2

The European Union's Import Control System 2 (ICS2) has launched its second phase to improve cargo security and risk management. The system gradually replaces the EU's existing Import Control System (ICS) between 2021 and 2024. It requires all air carriers, freight forwarders, express couriers, and postal operators transporting goods by air to or through the EU to provide a complete set of Entry Summary Declaration data before the goods arrive at the EU external border through the ICS2 system.

Failure to provide the necessary data required under the ICS2 system will lead to actions by customs authorities to enforce compliance before and on arrival at the external border. Economic operators who are not ready to comply can request to start filing into ICS2 during the time-limited deployment window, which runs until October 2, 2023. The deployment window, if granted, will allow the economic operators to become operationally ready for ICS2 Release 2 after March 1, 2023.

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ICS2 Release 2 introduces new data requirements and processes to comply with before transporting the goods from a third country and arriving at the European Union's external border. Air cargo general consignments are also subject to the PLACI filing and the complete data set of the Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) before arrival. The filing can be provided in one full ENS filing if all the necessary data is available to the party that files and assumes responsibility for bringing the goods into the European customs territory. Alternatively, it can be done with multiple filings, where more than one partial ENS filing is submitted by different actors in the supply chain.

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ICS2 is a successor to the original Import Control System (ICS) implemented in 2011, developed to enhance the security of the international supply chain and improve customs procedures across the EU. The system aims to improve the supply chain's efficiency and safety while facilitating trade. The system covers all modes of transportation, including road, air, rail, and maritime.

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In Release 1, ICS2 focused on postal and express consignments coming to or through the EU by air, and with the release of ICS2 Release 2, air cargo general consignments are also subject to new filing requirements. Before economic operators start filing ENS in ICS2 Release 2, they must verify that their system is compatible with the ICS2 business processes and filing requirements through a mandatory self-conformance testing procedure.

Implementing ICS2 Release 2 is a critical reform that will improve EU cargo security and risk management. Release 3, which will include maritime, rail, and road modes of transport, will go live on March 1, 2024, and complete the implementation of the new system.

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