From 2023, important reforms concerning import procedures will come into effect. Several formalities will have to be carried out by supply chain operators. The import-export overhaul aims to ensure a complete dematerialization of exchanges between customs and companies. The date of completion of this work is set at 31 December 2025 by the Customs Code of the Union.
ICS - Import Control System
The Import Control System (ICS) is a procedure initiated by the European Union within the framework of the WCO SAFE standards to secure the flow of international trade at import. The challenge is to fight against threats related to the transport of malicious and prohibited products by communicating data to the competent authorities before the arrival of the goods on the territory.
In order to replace this obsolete system, a second version of the ICS is progressively deployed to meet the new protection objectives set by the EU Customs Code. ICS 2 will allow authorities to check all goods before they enter the EU through a centralized IT system.
The deployment of ICS2 is staggered in 3 phases by transport mode:
March 1, 2021: Air express preloading and air mail preloading
March 1, 2023: All air cargo
March 1, 2024: All modes of transport (sea, road and rail)
New Import & Export Formalities to Remember in 2023
ICS 2 and ENS – Pre-clearance
Issuance of a new security-security declaration for goods before their entry into the European Union. This new computer system will conduct an automatic analysis of the “entry summary declarations” (ENS) submitted by the various supply chain actors.
The result of the analysis of the data contained in the ENS will be transmitted to the customs of the member states, which will be able to validate the declaration or carry out additional controls. ICS 2 is based on the collection of approximately 200 data items from carriers and other supply chain actors.
PNTS: Notification of presentation of goods and temporary storage – Pre-clearance
When goods arrive in the country, they must be presented to customs and placed in temporary storage in order to carry out any controls.
A Notification of presentation is issued in the presentation system of the Member State. The related formalities must be carried out in a dedicated computer system (PNTS in France: temporary storage, release for free circulation).
The regularity of the ICS2 will be a condition of validity of all other subsequent formalities.
DELTA IE – Customs clearance
Delta Import-Export is a new customs clearance platform that will replace Delta G and X for the preparation of customs declarations. This new platform will allow interoperability with other European customs IS.
Eventually, DELTA IE will enable customs declarations to be received and processed in electronic format for the import and export of goods between the European Union and a third country. Many changes will take place for transport operators.
For example, the SAD (Single Administrative Document) will be abolished in favor of a declaration sent electronically to customs (H1 declaration for imports and H7 declaration for exports).
