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    ICS2 Release 2 – What airfreight shippers need to bear in mind from March onwards

    Published on
    Rhenus News

    Improving pre-arrival security at customs: this is the aim of the European Union’s Import Control System 2 (ICS2) security programme . In March, the EU launched the second release of ICS2, which requires data to be collected on goods before they are loaded onto aircraft departing to Europe. This enables authorities to identify high-risk shipments and ensure transparency in the supply chain.

    Update 2024:

    The ICS2 security program is being rolled out in multiple phases and applies to EU member states, including Norway and Switzerland. For postal operators and express carriers, Release 1 of ICS2 was already implemented in March 2021. Release 2, effective from March 1, 2023, now includes all air cargo and airmail flown from outside Europe to or through an EU country. Future releases of ICS2 will extend to maritime and inland waterways carriers on June 3, 2024, and to house-level filers within those sectors by December 4, 2024. By April 1, 2025, ICS2 will also include road and rail carriers, with full compliance required by September 1, 2025.

    Under the original Import Control System (ICS), airlines were required to submit an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) for each Master Air Waybill (MAWB) before the cargo arrived at the first point of entry in Europe. ICS2 now requires in addition the pre-loading advance cargo information (PLACI) at HAWB (house air waybill) level as soon as possible or at the latest before the goods are pre-loaded on the aircraft.

    The shipper is responsible for ensuring that the information provided by the receiver is correct and complete. Incorrect or missing information may result in refusal to load at the airport of origin, sanctions or even additional costs, such as storage, to be borne by both parties. To avoid this, shippers should proactively check the required information against the European tax and customs union database.

    As an experienced logistics provider, we recommend that companies familiarise themselves with ICS2 Release 2 as early as possible. This will ensure that there is no disruption to the supply chain when shipments are transported through or into the EU. If you have any further questions about ICS2, please do not hesitate to contact our experts.

    Status 2023:

    (The security programme ICS2 is being introduced in three releases: for postal operators and express carriers, Release 1 of ICS2 was already implemented in March 2021. Release 2, from 1 March 2023, now includes all air cargo and airmail flown from outside Europe to or via an EU country. Ocean, rail and road freight will follow in Release 3 on 1 March 2024.

    Under ICS1, airlines were required to submit an entry summary declaration (ENS) for every master air waybill (MAWB) four hours before the arrival of the cargo. ICS2 now requires in addition the pre-loading advance cargo information (PLACI) at HAWB (house air waybill) level as soon as possible or at the latest before the goods are pre-loaded on the aircraft.)