The European Union (EU) has announced its intention to roll out a robust customs pre-arrival safety and security system aimed at enhancing the monitoring of incoming cargoes through sea, rail, and road channels.
The EU revealed that this new initiative, in line with its Import Control System 2, is scheduled to be launched on June 3, 2024. Under the new policy, traders will be obligated to furnish data on goods destined for or passing through the region before their actual arrival.
The third phase of implementing this innovative system extends safety and security data reporting requirements to all modes of transportation, covering maritime and inland waterways as well as road and rail transport within the region. Similar reporting obligations have already been enforced for the air transportation of goods.
In a statement, the EU explained, “With this third release, maritime and inland waterways, road and rail carriers will also need to provide data on goods sent to or through the EU before their arrival, through a complete Entry Summary Declaration (ENS).”
This obligation extends to postal and express carriers employing these modes of transport, along with other entities like logistics providers. In certain situations, final consignees established in the EU will also be required to submit ENS data to ICS2.
To prevent potential delays and ensure compliance, the EU advised traders to prepare well in advance for Release 3. Businesses affected by these changes must ensure the collection of accurate and comprehensive data from their clients, update their IT systems and operational processes, and provide adequate training to their staff.
Traders are also mandated to complete a self-conformance test from December 11, 2023, before connecting to ICS2, confirming their capability to access and exchange messages with customs authorities.
The Union stated that ““Member States can grant the deployment window anytime within the following timeframes: from 3 June 2024 to 4 December 2024 (maritime and inland waterway carriers); from 4 December 2024 to 1 April 2025 (maritime and inland waterway house level filers); and from 1 April 2025 to 1 September 2025 (road and rail carriers).
The EU emphasised that traders failing to meet the requirements on time, and failing to provide the necessary data under ICS2, risk having their goods halted at EU borders and denied clearance by customs authorities.
