Introduction  (ICS1)

ICS forms an integral part of the European program for the control of commodities for security and protection purposes at the external borders of the EU customs territory. It protects citizens and the single market from the risks of illicit traffic in goods and facilitates legitimate trade by simplifying the exchange of information between economic operators and customs authorities.

The ICS1 applies to the circulation of goods before their arrival in the EU, even before loading them on the means of transport, regardless of the mode of transport (air, sea, rail, etc.). It incorporates common risk criteria (CRC) risk analysis based on data submitted in the form of the Electronic Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) at the first point of entry into the European Union to support targeted and effective controls. It allows EU customs authorities to better identify high-risk consignments and intervene at the most appropriate point in the supply chain.

The ICS1 entered into force in the European Union (and in our country) in 2011 and is being gradually replaced by the versions of the new ICS2 system.

 

About ICS2

The purpose of the new trans-European ICS2 system is to meet the needs and achieve the goals of the "customs risk management strategy and action" approved by the EU in 2014. It is based on a completely reformed customs procedure that incorporates the EU security and protection requirements of the legislative package of the new Union Customs Code effective from 1 May 2016. 

The ICS2 enhances and improves customs risk management and the detection of dangerous and illegal goods. It aims for more effective and efficient customs controls in rapidly evolving supply chains while supporting level competition and facilitating legitimate trade.

What changes with ICS2

The customs procedures included in the previous Customs Code and supported by ICS1 are reformed and supplemented. More specifically, with ICS2:

• More quality and reliable data (such as purchaser and seller details) is collected pre-arrival and pre-load for all goods (removal of exceptions for example postal and low-value courier items) entering the EU.
• In addition to the carrier, information is collected from all economic operators involved in the supply chain (e.g., transit and logistics operators, courier service providers, postal service providers, importers, consignees) who partly submit the data that concern them (master and house transfer contract levels).
• A 'common repository' is established for the registration/consolidation of partial data submissions, as well as the exchange between countries implementing ICS2 of this information, risk analysis results and controls. All countries have access to the repository, and cooperation and transparency are enhanced.
• A 'common trading interface' (STI), or a 'harmonized trading interface' (HTI) is provided to economic operators and transparency is enhanced.
• In air transports, the obligation to submit and analyze risks based on a minimum set of pre-load information (PLACI) is established and additional measures apply (such as referrals, HRCM control and the DO NOT LOAD message").
• In addition to the notification of the arrival of the means of transport, the notification of the presentation of commodities also applies
• Cancellation of the Entry Summary Declaration applies