Explained simply by CLS: ICS2: in general, and for postal operators in particular – Part 1

#ICS2 is designed to enhance #transportsecurity. It is a new #EU pre-arrival #security and #safety system which supports #effective risk-based #customs control (the EU’s “first line of defence”). 

The principle is simple: 
– #Cargo information is transmitted in advance to the customs #authority in the EU country of entry (this is the #digital Entry Summary Declaration or #ENS) at #consignment level. Parties pre-loading ENS filings are lodged in ICS2;
– Provision to customs authorities of all relevant information needed to decide for security and safety reasons whether the consignment may be imported into the EU on the basis of a #riskanalysis;
– If the customs authority sends a „Do Not Load“ message, the consignment concerned shall not be loaded onto the #aircraft (in case of air transport).

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗖𝗦𝟮 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝟯 𝗽𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 (𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀)
In order to give #serviceproviders #leadtime for this complete #digitalization of transport security, it was decided to introduce ICS2 in 3 phases (“releases”).
– Release 1: came into force on 15 March 2021, making ICS2 became mandatory for air transport. However, a simplified procedure, or ‘PLACI’, requiring the transmission of only 8 data elements was allowed during this phase.
– Release 2: enters into force on 1 March 2023, with the full #data set required for air transport.
– Release 3: From 1 March 2023, this model becomes mandatory for all transport modes (incl. Land / Sea / Rail).

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗜?
#PLACI – “Pre-Loading Advance Cargo Information” – is the minimum dataset (ENS filing) which must be sent to ICS2. It consists of 8 data elements and is limited to air traffic only:
– Sender’s name;
– Sender’s address;
– Addressee’s name;
– Addressee’s address;
– Detailed content description;
– Gross weight;
– Number of packages (one by default);
– Item ID.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀?
In Release 1, postal operators (DO) are also required to submit the PLACI dataset for postal #customsclearance into the EU. 
Theoretically, the necessary data should be available in the #IT systems of the international #postal system. To date, switching data between postal and air freight has proved to be a #challenge, creating the drive for #global #harmonisation.

(To be continued)