26 July 2022: The European Commission (DG TAXUD) has launched an information campaign about the Import Control System 2 (ICS2), the European Union Advance Cargo Information System. The ICS2 system - launched on 15 March 2021 - aims to gather data on all goods destined for or transiting through the EU prior to them reaching the EU’s borders (including Norway and Switzerland) through an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS). Thus, Economic Operators (EOs) will have to connect to ICS2 and submit safety and security data via that declaration.

On 1 March 2023, the European Union is launching the next phase of Import Control System 2 (ICS2) – Release 2. As of this date, all postal operators, express couriers, express and air carriers, and freight forwarders in charge of sending, receiving and organising logistics and transportation of goods into or through the EU by air traffic will be required will be subject to ICS2 regulations, irrespective of whether they have legal establishment in or outside of the European Union.

Every Economic Operator directly or indirectly affected by ICS2 should align its business processes with this new regulatory and operational regime and complete the necessary steps to conform.

We have attached to this update two factsheets with detailed information on the following:

• What Economic Operators, that are directly affected by the second release, need to do to get their IT systems ready in time.
• What are the new data reporting requirements for the freight forwarders, express couriers, postal operators with facilities outside the EU and air carriers under Release 2, irrespective if their legal establishment is within or outside of the European Union.