INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF FREIGHT FORWARDERS ASSOCIATIONS (FIATA)

國際貨運代理協會聯合會

·     Safety and Security: The EU’s ICS2 Extends to Rail and Road on 1 April 2025, Covering All Modes of Transport

The European Union's (EU) Import Control System 2 (ICS2) aims to enhance the safety and security of goods entering the EU by introducing a standardized pre-arrival customs process for all transportation modes, including road and rail, in addition to the existing air, maritime, and inland waterway requirements. By mandating the submission of accurate and complete Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) data prior to arrival, ICS2 enables customs authorities to better assess the risks associated with incoming goods, thereby improving the EU’s ability to prevent and combat customs offenses, and ultimately ensuring a safer and more secure trade environment.

From 1 April 2025, road and rail carriers will need to provide data on goods sent to or through the EU prior to their arrival, through a complete ENS. This obligation also concerns postal and express carriers who transport goods using these modes of transport as well as other parties, such as logistics providers. In certain circumstances, final consignees established in the EU will also have to submit ENS data to ICS2.

Economic operators who are not ready by this date need to contact the National Service Desk of the EU Member State (National Customs Authority) where they have registered and obtained their Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number, to request a deployment window by 1 March 2025 at the latest. Deployment windows are granted only upon request.

To comply with the ICS2 requirements, affected businesses will be required to make sure they collect accurate and complete data from their clients, update their IT systems and operational processes, and provide adequate training to their staff. Economic operators will also need to successfully complete a self-conformance test before connecting to ICS2, to verify their ability to access and exchange messages with customs authorities. Goods might be stopped at the EU borders and might not be cleared by the customs authorities if traders do not meet the ICS2 requirements on time.

For more information 

·       More information about ICS2 is available on the European Commission’s webpage

·       Please find the factsheets for maritime and rail transportation and the steps to take to prepare for ICS2

·       Please check the FIATA Guidance document ICS2 Release 3 Maritime: Best practices for freight forwarders

All necessary technical documentation can be found on CIRCABC.