New EU security rules for cargo entry via road, rail, sea

Traders are advised to prepare in advance to avoid the risk of delays and non-compliance. Affected businesses will be required to make sure that they collect accurate and complete data from their clients, update their IT systems and operational processes,

European Union’s (EU) new customs pre-arrival safety and security system—Import Control System 2 (ICS2)—will introduce a new process for entry of goods by maritime and inland waterways, road and rail in the EU as of 3 June 2024. This is the third phase of the implementation of the new system that will extend safety and security data reporting requirements to all modes of transport.

Similar requirements went into force for air transportation of goods. With this third release, maritime and inland waterways, road and rail carriers will need to provide data on goods sent to or through the EU prior to their arrival, through a complete Entry Summary Declaration. 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.

Traders are advised to prepare in advance for release III to avoid the risk of delays and non-compliance. 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. From 11 December 2023, traders also need to complete a self-conformance test before connecting to ICS2, to verify their ability to access and exchange messages with customs authorities. EU Member States will grant authorisation, upon request, to the affected traders to connect to ICS2 within a time-limited deployment window.

The Member States can grant the deployment window anytime within the following timeframes from 3 June-4 December 2024 (maritime and inland waterway carriers), from 4 December 2024-1 April 2025 (maritime and inland waterway house level filers), and from 1 April 2025-1 September 2025 (road and rail carriers). If traders are not ready on time, and do not provide the data required under ICS2, goods will be stopped at the EU borders and will not be cleared by the customs authorities.

The EU is a major player in international trade—it accounts for around 14 per cent of the world’s trade in goods. By collecting safety and security data, EU customs authorities will be able to detect risks earlier and to intervene at the most appropriate point in the supply chain to keep trade safe for the EU and its citizens. ICS2 will simplify the movement of goods between customs offices at the first point of entry and destination in EU. ICS2 will provide a single access point to communicate with all EU Member States’ customs for all EU operations instead of 27 national interfaces. For traders, ICS2 will streamline requests for additional information and pre-departure risk screening by customs authorities, thus reducing administrative burden for businesses.

Now maritime and inland waterways, road and rail carriers will need to provide data on goods sent to or through the EU prior to their arrival