Import Control System 2 - Release 1

Who?

Express carriers and European based postal operators and Third-country postal operators shipping to Europe.

When?

The first release becomes effective on 15 March 2021.

How?

Pre-Loading Advance Cargo Information (PLACI) using the minimum ENS dataset.

More precisely:
Express carriers and designated postal operators established in the European Union (destination posts) will be required by the Union Customs Code to provide the minimum set of advance electronic data, in the format of the electronic Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) to the ICS2, for all goods in consignments they are responsible for bringing into the EU customs territory.

The electronic Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) will be mandatory for all express and postal consignments destined to enter the Union customs territory.

Why?

ICS2 aims to provide an extra security layer to the existing civil aviation security requirements. Pre-loading advance cargo information – PLACI, as a subset of the ENS will be used by the EU customs authorities to perform air cargo and mail security risk assessments. The scope of these assessments is to detect immediate threats to aviation security i.e. bringing on board an aircraft articles that could lead to the destruction of the plane and/or loss of lives – improvised explosive (IED) or incendiary device (IID) a.k.a. ‘bomb in the box’.

EU guidance on air cargo security referral protocols for ICS2

 

Unacceptable goods descriptions guidance

Additional ICS2 project documentation can be consulted here.

ICS2 Pre-loading requirements

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