‘Provide data on goods’ — EU introduces new trade policy for importers

The European Union (EU) says its new customs pre-arrival safety and security system for cargoes entering the region via sea, rail and road, will be introduced from June 3, 2024.

The new process is under the region’s import control system 2 (ICS2), the EU said in a statement on Monday.

According to the economic bloc, the new policy will require traders to provide data on goods sent to or through the region prior to their arrival.

The union said the new process, which applies to maritime and inland waterways, as well as road and rail in the region, will mandate importers to make a complete entry summary declaration (ENS).

It is understood that this is the third release of its new system’s deployment, which would require all means of transportation to disclose safety and security data.

“Similar requirements already went into force for air transportation of goods,” the statement reads.

“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 prior to their arrival, through a complete Entry Summary Declaration (ENS).

“The 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, the EU said, final consignees established in the EU will also have to submit ENS data to ICS2.

The EU ‘strongly advised’ traders to prepare in advance for “Release 3 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,” the statement further reads.

‘EU MEMBERS STATES TO AUTHORISE TRADERS ON REQUEST’

Traders were also required to complete a self-conformance test from “December 11, 2023” 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 gradually connect to ICS2 within a time-limited deployment window.

“Member States can grant the deployment window anytime within the following timeframes: from 3 June 2024 to 4 December 2024 (maritime and inland waterway carriers); from 4 December 2024 to 1 April 2025 (maritime and inland waterway house level filers); and from 1 April 2025 to 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 bloc said with Release 1, from March 15, 2021, postal and express consignments entering the EU by air were subject to a pre-loading advance cargo information (PLACI) subset.

With Release 2, air cargo general consignments were also subject to pre-loading advance cargo information (PLACI) filing and ENS data, from March 1, 2023.