Since April 1st, the Import Control System 2 (ICS2), which collects advance cargo information, has been in force in the Customs Territory of the European Union. Its goal is to facilitate the free flow of trade through optimized customs security processes, which include collecting data about goods before they enter EU territory. The new measure means that freight forwarders (FFW) are required to submit Entry Summary Declarations (ENS) for all consigned goods to customs authorities 48 hours before loading at origin.
What are the benefits of the ICS2 system?
All operators involved in the handling, dispatch, and transport of goods must provide safety and security data to ICS2. Some of the advantages of the new system include:
- It strengthens the protection of the European internal market against potential threats to its security.
- It enables customs authorities to more easily identify high-risk shipments and intervene at the most appropriate point in the supply chain:
- Pre-loading for items such as explosives and infectious materials, among other dangerous goods.
- First customs entry point for risks not covered during pre-loading.
- Customs at unloading point for risks requiring customs checks, such as prohibited goods or illicit trade.
- Customs at destination for risks that do not require early control, such as verifying compliance with product safety regulations.
- It facilitates the cross-border clearance of legitimate trade, contributing to more efficient customs processes.
- It simplifies the exchange of information between economic operators and EU customs authorities.
What must the Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) include?
The ICS2 system establishes that the ENS is required for all goods entering the EU, whether for import, transit, or transshipment. This requirement also applies to Switzerland, Norway, and Northern Ireland, in accordance with the current protocol with these territories. The data that must be included in the Entry Summary Declarations are:
- Master Bill of Lading (MBL) and House Bill of Lading (HBL) numbers, which are transport contracts — the MBL is issued by the shipping line and includes the actors involved, usually the origin and destination freight forwarders, while the HBL is issued by the freight forwarder and includes information about the actual seller and buyer of the goods.
- Harmonized System (HS) tariff code for each shipment item.
- Detailed and accurate description of the goods.
- Gross weight and number of packages.
- Name and address of both exporter and importer.
- Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number of the importer.
Is it possible to modify the ENS?
Each successfully validated ENS declaration is recorded with a Movement Reference Number (MRN), which is used for future communication with the declarant and serves as a unique identifier for the submission. The declared data may be modified afterwards, unless customs authorities have notified the declarant of their intention to inspect the goods, have identified incorrect data, or the goods have already been presented to customs.
If the non-editable elements are incorrect and need to be corrected, the ENS submission must be invalidated, and the risk analysis process restarted. This can lead to delays, extra storage and terminal costs, and potentially fines.
At Startrans, we are experts in customs management — whether it’s import and export clearances, goods under special regimes, customs transit, or inspection services for special cargo — and we stay up to date with any regulatory changes, such as the new ICS2 import control system. Contact us for more information.