The European Union has made it a top priority to ensure the security of its citizens and single market. Every year, trillions of euros worth of goods are imported into the EU, with the EU-27 now accounting for around 15% of the world’s trade in goods. In order to strengthen customs risk management under the Common Risk Management Framework (CRMF), the European Union is implementing a new customs pre-arrival security and safety program, supported by a large-scale advance cargo information system – Import Control System 2 (ICS2).
What is ICS2?
ICS2 is a new customs pre-arrival security and safety program that will support effective risk-based customs controls while facilitating the free flow of legitimate trade across the EU’s external borders. It represents the first line of defense in terms of the protection of the EU internal market and EU consumers. The new program will remodel the existing process in terms of IT, legal, customs risk management/controls, and trade operational perspectives.
The EU’s new advance cargo information system, ICS2, supports the implementation of this new customs safety and security regulatory regime aimed at better protecting the single market and EU citizens. It will collect data about all goods entering the EU prior to their arrival. Economic Operators (EOs) will have to declare safety and security data to ICS2 through the Entry Summary Declaration (ENS). The obligation to start filing such declarations will not be the same for all EOs. It will depend on the type of services they provide in the international movement of goods and is linked to the three release dates of ICS2 (15 March 2021, 1 March 2023, and 1 March 2024).
Early identification of threats
Advance cargo information and risk analysis will enable the early identification of threats and help customs authorities to intervene at the most appropriate point in the supply chain. ICS2 introduces more efficient and effective EU customs security and safety capabilities that will:
• Increase the protection of EU citizens and the internal market against security and safety threats
• Allow EU Customs authorities to better identify high-risk consignments and intervene at the most appropriate point in the supply chain
• Support proportionate, targeted customs measures at the external borders in crisis response scenarios
• Facilitate cross-border clearance for legitimate trade • Simplify the exchange of information between Economic Operators (EOs) and EU Customs Authorities.
Compliance with ICS2 regulations
For Economic Operators (EOs) to comply with ICS2 regulations, they must understand their obligations based on their specific role in the supply chain. The first release date for ICS2 was on March 15, 2021, followed by two subsequent release dates on March 1, 2023, and March 1, 2024. The timing of each release date is determined based on the type of services that EOs provide in the international movement of goods. EOs must declare safety and security data to ICS2 through the Entry Summary Declaration (ENS).
The obligation to file ENS is as follows:
• On 15 March 2021, the obligation to lodge an ENS will apply to all modes of transport and all goods brought into the customs territory of the Union
• On 1 March 2023, the obligation to lodge an ENS will apply to all goods brought into the customs territory of the Union, regardless of the mode of transport, and to all goods brought into or out of the Union transit
• On 1 March 2024, the obligation to lodge an ENS will apply to all goods brought into or out of the customs territory of the Union.
In conclusion, ICS2 is an important program that the European Union has implemented to better protect its citizens and the internal
What’s new as of March 1, 2023
- All goods that are sent by air freight & express to the EU or to Northern Ireland, Norway or Switzerland or are in transit there require:
- a minimum six-digit HS code for each item in the shipment;
- an accurate description of the goods for each item in the shipment;
- the EORI number, i.e. the customs number of the recipient
These specifications apply to all goods (with the exception of documents), regardless of their respective value, i.e. also for samples!
We at Pro China Direct are familiar with the new requirements of the ICS2 and ensure that both the exact description of the goods and the HS code, i.e. the goods tariff number, are given for all sample shipments by express. For faster clearance in Europe, you can support us by also giving us your EORI, i.e. customs number.
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