EU’s Import Control System 2 (ICS2) Release 3 Requirements
September 29, 2025 – Find out the latest news and updates about release 3 of EU’s Import Control System 2 (ICS2).
What Is ICS2 and What Does Release 3 Mean?
The Import Control System 2 (ICS2) is the EU’s new advance cargo information system that collects safety and security data on goods entering or transiting via the EU, Norway, Switzerland and Northern Ireland using air, maritime, road and rail transportation modes before their arrival. ICS2 aims to better protect Europe’s single market and its citizens with new customs safety and security measures and will facilitate free flow of trade through improved data-driven customs security processes that are adapted to global business models. ICS2 is required for all shipments transiting via any EU country even if the final destination is not a part of the EU, i.e. a shipment from Asia to the UK, where the goods are transiting via any EU country.
The Import Control System 2 (ICS2) is being made operational in three releases. Each release affects different Economic Operators (EOs) and modes of transport. Release 1 (March 15, 2021) introduced ICS2 for postal operators and express carriers, requiring pre-loading advance cargo information for air shipments. Release 2 (March 1, 2023) extended ICS2 requirements to air carriers, freight forwarders, and consolidators, covering general air cargo and mail consignments. The most recent and final phase, Release 3, expands ICS2 to maritime, road, and rail carriers, completing the transition and making ICS2 the sole system for all transport modes as of September 1, 2025.
What Is Included in EU’s ICS2 Release 3?
ICS2 Release 3, which went into effect on June 3, 2024, introduced new requirements for Entry Summary Declarations (ENS), increasing the need for accurate, timely, and complete data submissions. It is now mandatory for anyone shipping goods into or transitioning through the EU, Norway, Switzerland and Northern Ireland using air, maritime and inland waterways, road and rail transportation modes to provide a six-digit Harmonized System (HS) code for each commodity line listed in the commercial invoice and or detailed goods descriptions for the shipments prior to arrival of goods.
Where more than one HS code is present, the net weight of each is also required. The Economic Operators Registration and Identification Number (EORI) for the shipment recipient consignee is also mandatory.
Traders are strongly advised to prepare in advance for Release 3 to avoid the risk of delays and non-compliance.
How Can You Prepare for the Upcoming ICS2 Release 3?
When tendering a shipment to UPS Supply Chain Solutions destined to or via the EU, whether by your method or via our shipping systems, e.g. the UPS® Forwarding Hub, the following information is mandatory:
- Shipper name
- Shipper address
- Recipient name
- Recipient address
- Number of packages
- Gross weight
- Acceptable goods description (see the full EU guidelines)
- Six-digit Harmonized System (HS) codes along with net weight of each where there is more than a single HS code involved*.
- For EU-27, the recipient’s EORI number (see the full EU guidelines)
If you are not utilizing the UPS Supply Chain Solutions’ shipping systems, you also have the option to deliver the required information to your local customs office directly.
In the case that customers provide insufficient data to complete ICS2 data reporting requirements, UPS SCS will make a commercially reasonable effort to contact customers. If a shipper does not respond, the shipment would be held at the origin until all requirements are received.
Letters, correspondence and other document shipments of no commercial value are excluded from this requirement. For more information on HS Codes, check out our Importer’s Guide to HTS Codes.
What Was Included in EU’s ICS2 Release 1 and 2?
ICS2 Release 1 went into effect on March 15, 2021. This required postal and express consignments coming to or through the EU by air to fill out the Entry Summary Declaration (so called pre-loading advance cargo information – also known as PLACI) prior to their loading onto the aircraft bound for the EU.
ICS2 Release 2 went into effect on March 1, 2023, and required air freight cargo general consignments to fill out the PLACI form and the complete set of data of the Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) prior to their arrival in the EU-27 destinations plus Norway, Switzerland and Northern Ireland (regardless of origin).
Latest News Regarding ICS2 Release 3
The EU’s Import Control System 2 (ICS2) entered its next phase on April 1, 2025, requiring all rail and road carriers transporting goods to or through the EU, Northern Ireland, Norway, or Switzerland to submit complete Entry Summary Declarations (ENS). ENS must contain the data elements defined in Annex B of UCC DA/IA. These requirements for road and rail transport entered into force on April 1, 2025 according to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2879 establishing the UCC Work Programme. Carriers must collect the necessary data from all underlying house transport documents or consignment notes provided by freight forwarders and other filing parties.
From September 1, 2025, ICS1, the EU’s previous import control system, is entirely phased out. From that date on, ICS2 is the only system for managing safety and security data for all incoming goods across air, maritime, road, and rail transport. This transition marks the full implementation of the Union Customs Code requirements, making accurate and timely ENS filings a legal obligation for all carriers and supply chain parties involved in moving goods into the EU customs territory.
The deployment window of the Release 3 of ICS2 started on April 1, 2025, and ends on September 1, 2025. All NAs (National Administrations) must have been ready before April 1, 2025, and all EOs (Economic Operators) must have started lodging ENS for road and rail transport to ICS2.
EOs are strongly advised to connect to ICS2. They may:
- Connect their system to ICS2,
- Use (third-party) IT service providers, or
- AccessICS2 via the EU’s web interface.
In any case, an EORI number is immediately requied to be able to initiate these connection activities.
By the end of 2026, ICS2 will also support multiple ENS filings, allowing different parties in the supply chain to submit partial filings. Accurate and high-quality data remains essential. EOs must monitor ICS2 error messages closely and re-submit corrected filings as needed. Additional guidance and a list of restricted “’stop words’” are available via the EU’s CIRCABC platform.
ICS2 Resources
More information about ICS2 and Release 3 is available on the European Commission’s webpage. You can also watch this video about ICS2 Release 3. More information about the technical preparation, including the updating of traders’ IT systems, can be found in this fact sheet. A fact sheet is available for maritime and inland waterways carriers looking for information about the steps to take to get ready for ICS2. All necessary technical documentation can be found on CIRCABC. If you have questions, get in contact with one of our customs brokerage professionals.