02 Apr New ENS requirements for EU imports from 1st April 2025
MIA Member Freight Link Solutions has shared the following news article.
New requirements for your EU ENS
ICS2, or Import Control System 2, is the new & updated version of the EU ‘Import Control System’.
The security pre-arrival IT system is designed to improve safety and security at EU borders by providing the EU with additional information for risk assessment and allow the seamless processing of cargo information by hauliers.
ICS2 will be rolled out gradually, with regulations taking effect upon its integration with the system –
- Maritime carriers will be required to connect with ICS2 between 3 Jun and 4 Dec 2024
Hauliers travelling on a North Sea ferry route from the UK to The Netherlands, Norway & Sweden will need to provide additional data within their ENS declaration due to the introduction of ICS2
- Maritime house-level filers (freight forwarders filing at house bill of lading level) must connect between 4 Dec 2024 and 1 Apr 2025
- Rest of EU (excluding The Netherlands, Norway & Sweden) – Hauliers (road and rail carriers) must connect on 1st April 2025 for unaccompanied freight, and 1st September 2025 for accompanied freight
You are responsible for remaining customs compliant. If you have not correctly filled your ENS and submitted to ICS2 before your goods have arrived at the port, they may be denied entry into the EU.
What do hauliers need to know?
If you are transporting goods into the EU, you will need to provide additional data in your ENS declaration via ICS2 before your goods arrive at the border.
Once your ENS has been assessed, the relevant port authorities will determine: whether your goods can be cleared for entry, if further information is required, or if your goods should be denied entry into the EU.
What additional data is required for ICS2?
As above, ICS2 will bring about additional information requirements for ENS declarations.
The most important changes include:
1. 6-digit HS commodity code
The biggest change brought on by the deployment of ICS2 is the HS commodity code, which will need to be provided as 6 digits instead of 4.
2. EU EORI number
Another big change for your ENS declaration is the requirement of the EU EORI number of the EU buyer (consignee) for accompanied freight.
The EU consignee will need to make their assigned EORI number known to the ENS declarant.
3. Countries of routing
Where appropriate, EU importers will also be required to include countries of routing for their consignments. This means that you will need to list which other country or countries the goods will travel through before arriving at their destination.
For example, if you are importing goods into Germany from the UK, you might list France as a country of routing.
(Please note, the above is not an exhaustive list and may be subject to change as more official guidance is released.)