ICS2 Release 3 was implemented on June 3, 2024, at 12:00 PM for maritimetransport (master level). Norwegian Economic Operatorswho are not ready must apply for a transition period by May 21, 2024. Other Economic Operators(house filers maritime and road and rail transport) - can find the operational date below.
ICS2 is operated in three releases, with Release 1 and Release2 already initiated (March 15, 2021, and March 1, 2023) The two first releases involves pre-notification of all air cargo. Release 3 involves maritime, road and rail, allfrom third countries to or via EU, CH and NO. There are different transition periods for the implementation of Release3:
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June 3, 2024 - December 4, 2024: maritime (master)
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December 4, 2024 - April 1, 2025: House filers maritime
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April 1, 2025 - September 1, 2025: Road and rail
In this article, you will find information related to the operational and transition period for Economic Operators. An Economic Operator can be both Sender and Declarant, or they can work with an ITSP as Sender. To get started with ICS2 Release 3 as a Sender, there are some prerequisites. Economic Operators must:
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Develop or update your IT system to be compatible with ICS2 Release 3 specifications (Economic Operators must perform their own compliance testing).
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As a Sender get access to STI or STP (Shared Trader Interface and Shared Trader Portal, interfaces developed by DG TAXUD) in order to submit ENS datasets and/or arrival notifications.
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Obtain confirmation from the member state where the Economic Operator (EO) or ITSP is registered with an EORI number, and that their compliance testing against the EU interface has been successful. Both Economic Operators and ITSPs need an EORI number.
Presentation and control directions must be made via national interfaces. Economic Operators that wants to use the Norwegian national interface must register as a digital actor:
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Integrate via a system provider.
The EU has set the following deadlines forEconomic Operator preparations before operational deployment:
Norwegian Economic Operators who are not ready to implement ICS2Release 3 on June 3, 2024, or who are required to implement later than June 3 (due to their role in pre-notification), must apply for a transition period by May 21, 2024. Applications should be sent toeither Norwegian customs authorities, or the customs authorities where Econimic Operator is registered with an EORI number. Economic Operatorsmust inform Norwegian Customs when they plan to implement ICS2 Phase 3. This should be done at least two weeks before the planned implementation date.
For more information on the transition window, refer to the documentation from the EU:
The application to Norwegian Customs for a transition period must include:
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Company name, organization number, and EORI number
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Company contact person details for ICS2 Phase 3
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Company role in the ICS2 process (forwarder, ground handler, etc.)
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Mode of transport
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Type of notifications the operator will submit (pre-notification before arrival, arrival notification, and/or submission message)
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Length of the transition period being applied for (from date to date)
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Expected date when the company plans to implement ICS2 Phase 3
Applications should be sent to Norwegian Customs at post@toll.no with the title “ICS2 Release 3 - Application for Transition Period”. If you have questions about ICS2, you can contact Digitoll at digitoll@toll.no.
When a transition period is granted:
If an economic operator has been granted a transition period from EU or CH, it is not necessary to apply to Norwegian Customs for the same. A transition period granted by one country will also apply to other countries in the security area.
Submission of pre-notification/ENS dataset and arrival notifications:
Maritime (master): To ensure a smooth transition from ICS2 Release 2 to Phase 3, sea carriers will be the first to submit ICS2 Release 3 ENS datasets and arrival notifications.
House filers Maritime: House filers sea have a transition window from December 4, 2024, to April 1, 2025, but can begin submitting their information as soon as sea carriers have initiated their pre-notification submission.
Road and rail: Road and rail carriers will begin submitting ICS2 Release 3 ENS datasets from April 1, 2025.
More Information about ICS2:
ICS2 (Import Control System 2) is the EU’s information system for pre-notification of goods transported from third countries to or via countries in the securityarea (EU, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Norway). The purpose of ICS2 is to protect the countries in the security area from the importation of dangerous goods and to meet increased security requirements in global trade.