Mastering ICS2: A Guide to EU Import Requirements
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Freya Jane
- Director of Customer's Success
Given the rising threats of terrorism and illegal trading, the European Union (EU) has made border security a top priority. The EU implemented the Import Control System 2 (ICS2) to efficiently regulate the movement of goods.
This advanced system promotes lawful trade and enhances protection by facilitating safe import management and proactive risk analysis even before goods enter the EU.
Are the complexities of ICS2 (EU import regulations) overwhelming you? Worry not; our detailed guide on ICS2 makes it a breeze for you to understand the EU safety and security requirements.
What is Import Control System 2 (ICS2)?
Import Control System 2 (ICS2) is the European Union’s safety and security system. It requires submitting detailed information about cargo before arrival to enhance border security.
Prior to goods entering EU customs territory, it requires the electronic submission of detailed shipment information. This allows advanced safety assessments to identify shipments that might need additional inspection. In addition to enhancing protection against possible threats, this proactive strategy makes the importation process run more smoothly and effectively.
Import Control System 2 (ICS2) Releases
ICS2 is currently in its third phase.
What was included in the ICS2 Releases 1 and 2?
The first release of ICS2 was implemented on March 15, 2021. This release was primarily for postal and express consignments travelling to or through the EU by air. It required them to complete the Entry Summary Declaration (also known as pre-loading advance cargo information, or PLACI) before being loaded onto an aircraft bound for the EU.
The second release of ICS2 came into effect on March 1, 2023. It required all air freight cargo general consignments to complete the PLACI form and the entire Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) data set before arriving in any of the EU-27 destinations as well as Northern Ireland, Norway, and Switzerland.
What is included in the ICS2 Release 3?
ICS2 Release 3, which came into effect on June 3, 2024, introduced a new process for the importers transporting goods into the EU via maritime and inland waterways, as well as road and rail.
It required them to provide a six-digit Harmonised System (HS) code and detailed description for each product before arrival through a complete Entry Summary Declaration (ENS). Additionally, it is also mandatory to submit the Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number for the shipment consignee.
Release 3 is not fully implemented on the given date; instead, it has different times for the different modes of transportation. For instance, freight forwarders moving goods via maritime and inland waterways for house-level filers must be completely aligned with the ICS2 requirements from 4 December 2024.
How can I prepare my business for ICS2?
Curious to learn what ICS2 R3 says about Freight Forwarders? Read More!
To complete and submit the safety and security declaration to the ICS2, you will need the following information for each product in the shipment:
Accurate goods description: Each item in the shipment must have an accurate and complete description, including composition, nature, and intended use.
EORI number: It is compulsory to obtain an EORI number from customs authorities of any EU state if your business is involved in customs activities within the EU.
Harmonised System (HS) code: You must provide a minimum of 6-digit HS code for each product to help customs authorities determine taxes and duties.
Information on the parties involved: You must provide information about the buyer, seller, consignee, and consignor.
In addition to gathering the aforementioned information, you can get your business ready for ICS2 by:
Upgrading the IT infrastructure of your business to make sure that it connects directly with the ICS2. With this, you can run self-conformance tests to check how communication between systems works.
Updating your business processes to make sure they comply with ICS2 requirements.
Clarify the responsibilities of your business and who is going to submit the ENS dataset.
Requesting customs authorities for a deployment window if needed to ensure you connect with ICS2 completely.
Challenges associated with ICS2
Businesses involved in importing goods to the EU face the following challenges:
Technical and regulatory challenges
Customs authorities, importers/exporters, and freight forwarding companies come across many technical and regulatory challenges associated with integrating ICS2.
From a technical standpoint, establishing an IT infrastructure that can effectively manage and secure a vast amount of data is a challenging task. Advanced and reliable technological solutions are required to ensure data accessibility, confidentiality, and integrity, especially in the area of cybersecurity.
From a regulatory perspective, one of the biggest challenges is getting different member states to harmonise their customs procedures. Every EU country is required to incorporate the ICS2 directives into its local regulatory requirements, which can cause delays and inconsistencies. Moreover, economic operators have to adopt new procedures to show compliance with the new regulations.
Affected industries by ICS2 implementation
Manufacturers: Businesses must adhere to the new data specification for the raw materials and components being imported into the EU from GB.
Retailers: They may find it challenging to provide accurate product descriptions and ensure compliance with the ICS2 regulatory requirements.
Transportation and logistics: Goods carriers need to adapt their systems to manage ICS2 data and ensure compliance.
E-commerce: Online businesses must make sure their goods meet ICS2 requirements.
Freight forwarders: They may face issues with data management and adopting new ICS2 regulations.
ICS2 system benefits
Improved protection for EU: ICS2 is crucial for protecting the internal market of the European Union, which increases the safety of the customers. This system identifies risky and non-compliant goods by implementing preventative controls.
Promoting legitimate trade: Thanks to its robust security measures, ICS2 performs effective risk management, facilitating the smooth flow of legitimate trade.
Early identification of risks: Using advanced risk analysis techniques, the ICS2 enables customs authorities of the EU to detect potential safety issues ahead of time.
Enhanced cooperation: ICS2 facilitates the rapid exchange of information between various customs authorities, enhancing collaboration between states for effective EU-wide risk analysis.
Applicability of ICS2
Import Control System 2 (ICS2) is applicable for all shipments moving from non-EU countries to EU countries or transiting through EU member states, as well as Northern Ireland, Switzerland, and Norway.
ICS2 Release 3: Preparation for the deadline of December 4, 2024
Maritime and Inland Waterways House Level Filers: Are you ready for the upcoming changes to ICS2?
Take the following actions to guarantee a seamless transition and prevent business interruptions:
Assess the compatibility of your current software and IT infrastructure with ICS2 Release 3.
Familiarise yourself with the new data requirements, collect the necessary information, and verify its accuracy.
Provide your staff with information on the new ICS2 requirements and procedures.
Take into account utilising ICS2 compliance software, such as iENS by iCustoms, that can automate the tasks associated with safety and security declarations.
How iCustoms can help:
iCustoms is a complete ICS2 compliance solution made to make imports from GB-EU easier; we offer the following benefits to your business:
Automated data entry
File ENS declaration in 90 seconds
Integration with existing ERP’s
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