As valued partners and key economic and trade stakeholders, we would like to share important information with you about the introduction of Import Control System 2 (ICS2). Import Control System 2 (ICS2) is the new EU system for advanced cargo information designed to improve safety and security in international goods transport and the supply chain. This system requires rail and road carriers to provide data on goods sent to or through the EU before their arrival by submitting a complete Entry Summary Declaration (ENS). ICS2 enables customs authorities to detect and mitigate security risks for EU citizens and the internal market, allowing them to target their interventions more effectively while facilitating the flow of goods.
The ICS2 system is already operational, but economic operators (EOs) can currently use the grace period known as the Deployment Window to complete their preparations for meeting ICS2 requirements. This Deployment Window is granted to the economic operator, upon request, by the EU Member State that issued its Economic Operator Registration and Identification number (EORI), and may last until 1 September 2025 at the latest, when the requirement to submit ENS becomes mandatory for all affected economic operators. There is no legal possibility of further extending this deadline. Therefore, we kindly ask you to advise your trade stakeholders to use the available time to connect to ICS2 and prepare for mandatory implementation. This will enable them to avoid unnecessary disruptions at the EU customs border from 1 September 2025.
The following options are available to economic operators:
- Establish system-to-system communication with the ICS2 platform so that ENS data are submitted directly to ICS2. This requires establishing a connection to ICS2 via a secure protocol and completing mandatory self-conformance testing (CT).
- Contract an IT service provider (ITSP) to submit ENS data on their behalf. Contracts must be concluded in advance to ensure that the ITSP can start submitting as soon as possible. Several ITSPs have already passed CT and are technically ready to start submitting ENS.
- Submit ENS via the ICS2 Shared Trader Portal (STP). To access the STP, the economic operator must connect to the ICS2 STP, complete registration and prepare to start submitting ENS.
In all of the above options, economic operators are advised to connect with the National Service Desk (NSD) of their Member State to receive guidance and support for connecting to ICS2. Please note that economic operators must possess an EORI number issued by an EU Member State in order to submit ENS data themselves or via an ITSP. Economic operators should apply for an EORI number from the authority of the Member State in which they have their business establishment. If they do not have a business establishment in the EU, they should request it from the Member State to which they will send their first shipment. The ENS sender must also be registered in the national/central User and Digital Signature Management system (UUM&DS).
More information on UUM&DS can be found on the EU Customs Trader Portal. The necessary information can be found on the ICS2 website of the European Commission.
In particular, economic operators are encouraged to read the sector-specific factsheets, such as the rail factsheet, road factsheet and technical readiness factsheet, available in several languages.
Please note that the carrier is legally responsible for submitting ENS data to ICS2. Where applicable, carriers and other supply chain participants must agree whether applicants (shipper, consignee established in the EU, etc.) will also connect to ICS2 in order to submit the relevant partial ENS dataset. Otherwise, the applicant will need to make the necessary commercial documentation data available to the carrier so that the carrier can connect to ICS2 and submit all required ENS data.
For additional information, please feel free to contact the DG TAXUD ICS2 team at TAXUDICS2-PROJECT-TEAM@ec.europa.eu.
