Shippers and forwarding organisations are calling
for enhanced data quality and information exchange globally to facilitate the
effective implementation of regulatory changes brought by the European Union’s Import Control
System 2 (ICS2) regime, which will take effect for sea, road,
and rail transportation in 2024 and 2025. The
guidance will also be relevant for other emerging pre-loading advance cargo
information (PLACI)
regimes around the world.
FIATA, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations,
and the Global
Shippers Forum (GSF)
have jointly issued an agreed “Guidance Note on Enhancing Data Quality and
Information Exchange for the EU ICS2 Regime”, which underscores the crucial role of collaboration between shippers and
freight forwarders in submitting high-quality data throughout the supply chain
to ensure compliance with PLACI requirements in an efficient and timely
manner.
Key considerations to
note are that:
• ICS2 will now cover all shipments entering or transiting the
EU by sea, road, and rail transport, with air transport requirements already
fully implemented in 2023.
• Shippers and forwarders exporting to the
EU Customs Territory are now responsible for providing more detailed information about each
consignment.
• Information must be presented to the
carrier, the import agent, or an authorised freight forwarder, or submitted
directly to the ICS2 system by a specified time before the goods are loaded or
arrive at the EU border (depending on the mode of transport and type of
journey).
• Failure
to provide the required information, in the right level of detail and by the
specified deadline, may result in delays and enforcement actions by EU
authorities.
This document specifically addresses shippers, consignors, and freight
forwarders involved in goods entering or transiting the EU Customs Territory by
air, sea (from June 2024), or road and rail transport (from April 2025). FIATA
and GSF emphasise the significance of data quality, accurate goods descriptions, and Harmonised
Commodity Codes (HS Codes).
The Guidance Note also provides practical Checklists for the submission of
essential information for the EU ICS2 for shippers and freight forwarders.