The European Union (EU), unveiled plans to introduce a robust customs pre-arrival safety and security system, targeting incoming cargoes via sea, rail, and road.
The initiative, aligned with the Import Control System 2, is scheduled to commence on June 3, 2024.
The EU outlined that under this new policy, traders will be required to furnish data on goods destined for or passing through the region prior to their arrival. Applicable to maritime and inland waterways, as well as road and rail transportation, the policy mandates importers to submit a complete entry summary declaration.
This marks the third phase of the implementation, extending safety and security data reporting requirements to encompass all modes of transport. The EU emphasized that similar requirements had already been enforced for the air transportation of goods.
The statement underscored, “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).”
The EU advised traders to proactively prepare for Release 3 to mitigate the risk of potential delays and non-compliance. It emphasized that affected businesses must ensure the collection of accurate and comprehensive data, update IT systems and operational processes, and provide adequate training to their staff.
Traders were further instructed to complete a self-conformance test by “December 11, 2023,” before connecting to ICS2, verifying their ability to access and exchange messages with customs authorities.
EU Member States will grant authorization, upon request, to affected traders for a gradual connection to ICS2 within specified time-limited deployment windows.
The deployment windows are set as follows: from June 3, 2024, to December 4, 2024, for maritime and inland waterway carriers; from December 4, 2024, to April 1, 2025, for maritime and inland waterway house level filers; and from April 1, 2025, to September 1, 2025, for road and rail carriers.
The EU warned that if traders fail to meet the specified deadlines and do not provide the required data under ICS2, goods will be halted at EU borders and will not receive customs clearance.
