The European Union’s customs pre-arrival safety and security program known as the Import Control System 2 (ICS2) goes live on June 3. Eight trade bodies representing shippers, forwarders and carriers have urged businesses moving goods into or through Europe to prepare for the new import security rules. There are concerns businesses may be unprepared for the scale of the advance cargo information required by ICS2, such as HS codes and detailed buyer and seller information.

The ICS2 will roll out in three phases, beginning with ocean and inland waterway carriers in June, extend to forwarders filing house bills of lading in December, then to road and rail shipments by April 2025. ICS2 will cover the European Union, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, and Northern Ireland.

Failure to provide the required information will result in delays and disruptions to exports to the EU from the rest of the world and to goods imported into the EU. It could also potentially result in fines and penalties for persons liable for submitting the Safety and Security data to ICS2, the trade associations said in a joint statement.

Source: Journal of Commerce