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eCustoms Project - Import Control System 2 (ICS2)
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Import Control System 2 (ICS2)

The European Union and its Member States, having as their highest priority the safeguarding of citizens and the single market, are implementing a new safety and security programme before the arrival of goods, which is supported by the Import Control System 2 (ICS2). The programme is one of the main actors in establishing an integrated EU approach to enhancing customs risk management under the Common Risk Management Framework (CRMF).

The pre-arrival security and protection program supports effective customs controls based on risk analysis, while facilitating the free flow of legal trade across the European Union's external borders.

The new ICS2 information system that will support the implementation of this new regulatory regime will collect data on all goods entering the European Union before their arrival. Economic operators should report security and protection data to the system through the Entry Summary Declaration (ENS). The advance submission of consignment information and risk analysis will enable the identification of threats in a timely manner and will help the customs authorities to intervene at the most appropriate point in the supply chain. The system will be implemented in three phases in 2021, 2023 and 2024.



Release 1

In Release 1, express carriers and postal operators established in the EU must, in accordance with the Union Customs Code, submit a minimum set of data electronically via the ENS (Pre-Loading Advance Cargo Information (PLACI)) in the ICS2 system, for all goods transported within the customs territory of the European Union, with a view to providing an additional level of security to existing civil aviation security requirements. The information will be used by the European Union customs authorities to carry out a risk analysis in relation to safety in air and postal cargo. The purpose of this analysis is to identify immediate threats to aviation safety such as the transport of objects on the aircraft that could lead to the destruction of the aircraft and / or loss of life.

The first phase of the Import Control System (ICS2 Release 1) was launched in Cyprus on the 14th of May 2021. Until the implementation of Release 2 on the 1st of March 2023, Release 1 will operate in parallel with ICS1 (for air, sea, road and rail transport).


Release 2

In Release 2, postal services, carriers, express carriers and air freight forwarders and logistics, in addition to the pre-loading information (PLACI) they will have to submit, will also be required to submit the Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) with the complete data set. Also, the above economic operators should submit a message with a specific data set to notify the arrival of the aircraft.

The transitional period will be until the 1st of October 2023. Until the implementation of Release 3 on the 1st of March 2024, Release 2 will operate in parallel with ICS1 (for sea, road and rail transport)


Release 3

In Release 3, postal services, carriers, express carriers and shipping and logistics carriers will be required to submit the Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) with the complete data set. Also, the above economic operators should submit a message with a specific data set to notify the arrival of the ship.

After the implementation of Release, ICS1 will be abolished after 200 days.

Legal Basis

· Union Customs Code (REGULATION (EU) No 952/2013)

· Commision Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446 (Supplementing Regulation (EU) No 952/2013)

· Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 (for implementing certain provisions of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013)

· UCC Work Programme

· EU Strategy and Action Plan for customs risk management

Useful links

The European Commission has published relevant information to inform economic operators about ICS2, divided into categories:

· TAXUD website for Safety and Security (europa.eu)

· Import Control System 2 (europa.eu)

· Release 1 (europa.eu)

· Release 2 (europa.eu)

· Release 3 (europa.eu)

· FAQs (europa.eu)

ICS2 Documents

In the following links you will find all the necessary specification documents published by the European Commission, which should be studied and implemented by the Economic Operators to implement their IT systems:

Release 1 Documents

Release 2 Documents

Release 3 Documents

Privacy Statement

Within the ICS2 system, the Cyprus Department of Customs and Excise processes ICS2 data, in its role as a controller jointly with the Commission.


ICS2 National Service Desk

Department of Customs and Excise,

Michael Karaoli 1, 1095 Nicosia,

Email address: helpdesk.cyprus@customs.mof.gov.cy

Fax No: +35722602767



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