ICS2 for Shipping to Europe

ICS2 means Import Control System 2. It is the EU advance cargo information system used to collect safety and security data for goods entering or transiting through the EU customs territory.

ENS means Entry Summary Declaration. It is the declaration used to provide the required advance safety and security information to the ICS2 environment.

No. ENS is the declaration, while ICS2 is the EU system that receives and processes the advance cargo information.

Yes. As of 1 June 2026, consignments entering the EU territory by any mode of transport should have the required valid ENS under the applicable ICS2 structure.

Yes. Maritime cargo entering or transiting through the relevant EU customs territory falls under the ICS2 advance-data framework.

Yes. Air cargo is subject to ICS2 requirements, including a minimum pre-loading information stage as well as the applicable complete ENS.

Yes. Road and rail are included in the completed ICS2 framework. In participating countries, certain road or rail ENS data may also be combined with an NCTS Phase 6 transit declaration.

ICS2 can also apply to goods transiting through the EU customs territory. The actual route and filing structure should therefore be reviewed.

The responsible filing structure depends on the transport mode, business model, contractual arrangements and which supply-chain party holds the required data. Carrier, forwarder or other relevant party may be involved.

ICS2 supports multiple-filing scenarios where required information is held by different supply-chain actors. The filings must connect correctly to create the required complete ENS data.

Economic operators connecting to ICS2 need the appropriate EORI and system-access structure. The exact EORI requirement should be confirmed according to the filing role.

The required dataset depends on mode and business model, but can include goods descriptions, commodity codes, consignor and consignee data, transport references, package information, weight, routing and relevant identifiers.

ICS2 data is used for advance security risk analysis. Precise descriptions help customs understand what the shipment contains, while vague or incomplete information can create filing or control issues.

Yes. Incomplete ENS information can be rejected or trigger a request for additional information, which can delay the entry process.

A risk referral is a request or instruction generated during pre-loading or pre-arrival risk analysis. It may require additional information, additional screening or other action before the risk assessment can continue.

In applicable high-risk pre-loading scenarios, a do-not-load instruction can be issued as part of the risk-mitigation process.

No. ENS / ICS2 deals primarily with advance safety and security data. The EU import customs declaration is a separate customs process covering matters such as importer, classification, value, origin, duty and VAT.

No. DDP is a commercial Incoterm. The shipment still needs the applicable advance transport, security and customs information at the required stages.

E-commerce goods entering or transiting through the EU are subject to advance cargo safety and security requirements. Low commercial value does not automatically remove the ICS2 data requirement.

BRF can help coordinate shipment-data preparation and communication with carriers and relevant filing partners for supported routes. The actual legal filer should be confirmed for the specific transport and business model.

Provide the origin, destination, product description, HS code if available, shipper, consignee, buyer and seller information where relevant, package quantity, gross weight, transport mode, B/L or AWB structure, cargo-ready date and final European destination.