ICS2 — Import Control System 2 — is the European Union's advance cargo information system that processes ENS filings. It replaces the legacy ICS1 system that operated from 2011 to 2021 and standardizes pre-loading and pre-arrival cargo data across modes and member states.
ICS2 rolled out in three releases:
- Release 1 (March 2021) — Air express and postal pre-loading filings
- Release 2 (March 2023) — All air cargo
- Release 3 (June 2024) — Maritime, road, and rail cargo
The data set is significantly broader than under ICS1:
- 6-digit HS code required (was free-text description under ICS1)
- Buyer and seller details for postal and express
- Stronger party identification (EORI, address)
- Container stuffing-location data for maritime
- Granular goods description ("FAK" is not acceptable, mirroring U.S. AMS practice)
Like the U.S. ISF and AMS regime, ICS2 supports Common Risk Analysis at the EU level and allows national customs authorities to issue "Do Not Load" or "Refer for Control" decisions before cargo arrives. ICS2 is operated by the European Commission's DG TAXUD and connected through the Shared Trader Interface (STI) — carriers and forwarders submit ENS data through certified service providers or directly into ICS2.
Penalties for non-compliance are set at the member-state level and vary widely. ICS2 has been a major operational change for non-EU carriers and forwarders shipping into the bloc, in some ways more onerous than the U.S. ISF.