FIATA
International Federation of
Freight Forwarders Associations
The global voice of freight logistics

EU ICS2 Alert ICS2 Release 3 goes live on 1 September 2025

General
31 August 2025

From 1 September 2025, compliance with the European Union’s (EU) Import Control System 2 (ICS2) will become mandatory for all road and rail economic operators. This marks the full implementation of Release 3, which completes the extension of ICS2 beyond air transport to cover maritime, road, rail, and inland waterway shipments.

ICS2 is the EU’s advance cargo information system, requiring complete and accurate Entry Summary Declarations (ENS) to be submitted before goods arrive at the EU border. Customs authorities use this information to conduct pre-arrival risk assessments, strengthening supply chain security and facilitating the smooth flow of cargo.

Who is affected?

  • Rail and road carriers transporting goods into or through the EU.
  • Postal and express operators using road or rail networks.
  • Freight forwarders and logistics providers involved in cross-border cargo movement.
  • Certain EU-based final consignees in specific cases.


Member States Requiring Immediate Compliance (No Transition Period)

According to the European Commission, all EU Member States have deployed ICS2 for every mode of transport. Some countries have opted for a temporary derogation, giving road and rail operators additional time to adapt.

The following Member States have not requested any derogation. As a result, from 1 September 2025, all goods entering the EU customs territory through the Member States listed below by road or rail must be declared in ICS2 via an ENS that meets the new road and rail requirements:

  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Portugal
  • Slovenia
  • Sweden

Use of ICS, NCTS P5 or any other IT system for the lodgement of the ENS in the above Member States will not be permitted.

Why is this important?
Economic Operators must ensure their IT systems and operational processes are fully aligned with ICS2 requirements. Missing, incomplete, or poor-quality data may result in shipment delays, penalties, or refusal of entry into the EU. It is advised that freight forwarders work closely with their clients to ensure that the new data requirements are well understood.

For further information on data quality requirements, please see FIATA's Stop Word Alert (published 24 July 2025) and Guidance Note on Enhancing Data Quality and Information Exchange for the EU ICS2 regime published in collaboration with the Global Shippers Forum.

What is next?
By the end of 2025, ICS2 Release 3 will extend multiple filing to all modes of transport allowing different parties in the supply chain to submit partial ENS data. Carriers and house filers must ensure appropriate coordination to ensure complete and compliant filings. FIATA previously developed a Model Bilateral Agreement for Multiple Filing applicable to ICS2 Release 2 (airfreight) and is currently working on a similar industry model agreement for ICS2 Release 3.

Activation of Business Continuity Plan for economic operators that are not ready is not permitted. Economic Operators that are not ready should use ICS2 STI-STP or representatives to submit the ENS into ICS2.

FIATA strongly encourages members to verify their readiness and continue reinforcing data quality practices. FIATA will monitor developments and support members in this transition. 

For questions, or to provide feedback on ICS2 implementation, contact: [email protected].

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