Swire Shipping is pleased to inform you about the European Union Customs Advanced Filing changes, as part of the release of ICS2 (European Union’s Import Control System 2), going live on 1 March 2025.

ICS2 regulations apply to all deep sea and short sea cargo that is discharging, transhipping, or transiting the 27 European Union countries, and three other countries: Northern Ireland, Norway, and Switzerland. This initiative strengthens customs risk management while enhancing safety and security assessments for goods entering or transiting through the European Union.

What changes for you?
To comply with the regulation, the mandatory Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) data elements must be submitted with your Shipping Instructions (SI) prior to the SI cut off.

The following data elements should be included:

• 6-digits Harmonized System (HS) code for each commodity.
•Complete and accurate cargo description.
•Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number of the consignee established in the EU (if such a number was assigned to this party) or the full address of the consignee.
•Buyer and seller information for shipments under a Straight Bill of Lading (Single Filing).
•EORI of the supplementary declarant, for self-filers of buyer and seller or house bill information – (Multiple Filing).
•Type of Person for all parties (if not previously supplied).

−Natural Person (individual)
−Legal Person (company, business)
−Association of Persons (association, foundation, state, municipality, or parish)

ENS information must be submitted by Swire Shipping and Self-filers at least 24 hours before loading onto the vessel entering the EU. Customs will assess the ENS within 24 hours of receiving submissions in the centralized European Customs system, Shared Trader Interface. Cargo will only be cleared for loading after a successful ENS submission, and the receipt of a Movement Reference Number (MRN) acknowledgment.

For existing shipments destined for the EU and scheduled to tranship on or after 1 March 2025, a Swire Shipping representative will be in contact to collect the necessary information for ENS filing at the transshipment port.

As a result of the additional costs associated with the provision of services, Swire Shipping will be revising our Security Manifest Documentation (SMD) Fee. The revision will be effective 15 March 2025 for all cargo loaded, Bill of Lading date destined for or transiting through the European Union. For countries regulated by the Federal Maritime Commission, this revision will be effective 1 April 2025.

For further information, please contact your local Swire Shipping representative.

Please visit the European Commission’s website for more information about ICS2 – Release 3 – at:
https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/customs-4/customs-security/import-control-system-2-ics2-0/import-control-system-2-release-3_en