FIATA’s latest E-Flash reminds the industry of the forthcoming changes for ICS2 Compliance for Rail and Road Freight.
The European Union's (EU) Import Control System 2 (ICS2) aims to improve the safety and security of goods entering the EU by introducing a standardised pre-arrival customs process for all transportation modes, including road and rail, in addition to the existing air, maritime, and inland waterway requirements. Starting from 1 September 2025, the Economic Operators (EOs) involved in the entry of goods by rail and road into the EU will be required to provide data on goods prior to their arrival in the EU, by submitting a complete Entry Summary Declaration (ENS).
The European Union's (EU) Import Control System 2 (ICS2) aims to improve the safety and security of goods entering the EU by introducing a standardised pre-arrival customs process for all transportation modes, including road and rail, in addition to the existing air, maritime, and inland waterway requirements. Starting from 1 September 2025, the Economic Operators (EOs) involved in the entry of goods by rail and road into the EU will be required to provide data on goods prior to their arrival in the EU, by submitting a complete Entry Summary Declaration (ENS).
EOs who are sending goods to or via the EU by rail or road can currently benefit from a deployment window until 1 September 2025 to establish the necessary system connections and ensure they have a valid Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number issued by the EU Member States. EOs are advised to use this time to connect to ICS2 in order to avoid disruptions at EU customs borders, as after this date, filing ENS will become mandatory for all impacted EOs.
ICS2 also introduces the option of multiple filing, allowing carriers to submit master-level data while freight forwarders submit house-level data independently which will allow timely submission of data and protection of the commercially sensitive information. ICS2 will allow multiple filing option for rail in Q1 2026 and for road in Q3 2026 offering forwarders more control over their data.
Alongside technical implementation, it is important that the roll out of ICS2 takes into account the operational realities of the logistics industry, particularly considering small and medium-sized supply chain operators with limited resources.
FIATA supports the joint statement by Global and European transport industry associations to the European Commission to assess the readiness of Member States ahead of the go-live dates for ICS2 Release 3 as well as to provide earlier access to multiple filing options. FIATA supports and encourages continued collaboration between the EU Commission and logistics industry stakeholders to ensure a smooth and effective implementation of ICS2 Release 3 for road and rail transport.
