EU sets new requirements for inbound air shipments

The European Union (EU) says all air shipments to or through the bloc will be subjected to new guidelines under its customs pre-arrival security and safety programme – the import control system 2 (ICS2) Release 2.

The EU said this in a statement on Wednesday, stating that the guidelines mandate freight forwarders to submit advance cargo information for customs risk assessment.

The ICS2 Release 2 is a large-scale initiative to enhance customs oversight of the movement of goods prior to their arrival at the EU external borders (air, maritime, land, and inland waterways).

It added that implementation of the guidelines would commence next year.

“From 1 March 2023, all freight forwarders, air carriers, express couriers, and postal operators transporting goods to or through the European Union (EU) (including Norway and Switzerland) will be required to submit advance cargo information in the form of a complete Entry Summary Declaration (ENS), under the second phase of the EU’s new customs pre-arrival security and safety programme – Import Control System 2 (ICS2) Release 2” the statement reads.

“Economic operators involved in handling, sending, shipping and transporting cargo, express or postal consignments to or via the EU by air have to comply with new advance data reporting requirements for pre-loading and pre-arrival customs risk assessments.”

EU explained that by collecting data about all goods entering the region prior to their loading and arrival, ICS2 supports effective risk-based customs controls while facilitating the free flow of legitimate trade across the EU’s external borders.