ICS is the acronym for Import Control System, a European computer application set up to enable operators importing goods into the European Union to fulfil their safety and security obligations. This initiative was taken by the European Union after the attacks of 11 September 2001 in the United States to secure international trade flows.

Traders are required to complete an electronic entry summary declaration (ENS), which contains information to enable customs authorities to carry out a risk analysis for security purposes and, if necessary, to decide on a physical check. This declaration must be made before the arrival of the goods at the first point of entry into the EU customs territory and must be lodged by the carrier.

ICS2 is a new and updated electronic customs import system, which reinforces the existing protection arrangements at the EU’s external borders for the introduction of non-EU goods. Among other things, it consolidates risk management on all economic operators’ flows and all modes of transport used.

It is an entirely new platform and will be rolled out in three phases to ensure a smooth transition.

• The first phase, which started on 15 March 2021, concerns certain express freight companies and postal operators operating in the air mode. This phase is only concerned with the investigation of aviation security risk.
• The second phase, starting on 30 June 2023, will concern postal operators, express freight companies and air carriers, which will have to transmit a complete pre-arrival ENS to the European central database in addition to the PLACI ENS, before the arrival of the goods at the first point of entry into the customs territory of the European Union.
• The third phase, starting on 1 June 2024, will concern other modes of transport, such as maritime, rail, road and inland waterway. During this period, the ICS1 rules will continue to apply to these vectors.