ICS2 RELEASE 3 – IMPORT CONTROL SYSTEM 2: SHIPMENTS TO THE EU FROM NON-EU COUNTRIES
Published 19 november 2024
As of December 4, 2024, Import Control System 2 (ICS2) Release 3 will come into effect for sea and inland waterway transport. This introduces new requirements for pre-arrival submission of safety and customs information for goods entering the EU, including Norway, Switzerland, and Northern Ireland. ICS2 aims to enhance security by collecting detailed data about goods before arrival, supporting risk-based controls and promoting the free flow of legitimate trade.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?
From November 25, 2024, the following information must be included with each booking:
• Goods Description: A precise and detailed description of each item, including the number and type of packages, packaging type, and weight. General or vague descriptions will not be accepted.
For example, instead of "clothing," specify "10 men's cotton shirts, size L."
• Commodity Code (HS Code): Mandatory for all goods item lines, with a minimum of 6 digits. Each item must have its corresponding HS code.
• Seller and Buyer Information: The previously used terms 'Consignor' and 'Consignee' are replaced by 'Seller' and 'Buyer.'
• EORI Number: Mandatory for EU legal entities. For Switzerland, Norway, and Northern Ireland, where EORI is not available, a VAT registration number may be provided.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Even if NTEX is not your designated customs broker, we must receive all necessary information to process your shipment. For full loads, this information must be received no later than one hour after loading. For groupage shipments, information must be received prior to export consolidation.
To ensure a smoother process, NTEX is happy to assist you with preparing your export documentation. Please contact us for more information about this service.
CONSEQUENCES OF INCOMPLETE OR INCORRECT DATA
Submitting incorrect or inaccurate data, as well as missing data elements, could lead to the following:
• Rejected declarations or customs intervention, with potential sanctions imposed for non-compliance
• Consignments stopped or delayed at customs
• Enhanced security screening
• Shipment delays
COSTS RELATED TO ICS2
NTEX has decided not to charge any additional fees for ICS2 reporting in 2024. However, from 2025, a clearance/ICS2 surcharge will be introduced to cover the costs associated with reporting requirements, both to shipping companies and later directly into the EU portal. Our customers will be informed in advance.
ACCEPTED AND NON-ACCEPTED GOODS DESCRIPTIONS
To facilitate the process and ensure compliance with goods description requirements, you can download a guide to accepted and non-accepted goods descriptions below, as well as a more detailed example of a correct entry for ICS2 compliance and therefore what your invoice or export information must contain.
If you have any questions or need further clarification, please contact your regular NTEX representative.
Best regards,
NTEX
