ICS2 for exporters to the EU: ENS deadlines, 6-digit HS code, stop words

What ICS2 is and who files the ENS

The European Commission describes ICS2 as an advance cargo information system: all economic operators that bring goods to or through the EU must declare safety and security data in an entry summary declaration (ENS), which customs use for risk analysis before the goods arrive, and for air cargo before loading. The ENS is not the import customs declaration; it comes first and serves security risk analysis.

The carrier is responsible for the ENS even if it appoints a representative such as a forwarding agent. Depending on the contracts in the supply chain, a single ENS or multiple filings can be used, for example the carrier for the master bill and a forwarder or consolidator for its house bills; postal and express operators file for their consignments. Filers use the Shared Trader Interface or Shared Trader Portal.

• Release 1, from 15 March 2021: postal and express operators for air consignments.
• Release 2, from 1 March 2023: all air cargo, with carriers, freight forwarders and postal and express operators.
• Release 3, from 3 June 2024: maritime and inland waterway carriers; maritime house-level filers from 4 December 2024.
• Road and rail carriers from 1 April 2025; from 1 September 2025 ICS2 fully replaced ICS1.
• Some member states allowed road and rail operators temporary derogations until 31 December 2025 or 31 May 2026; from 1 June 2026, every consignment entering the EU by any means of transport needs an ENS in ICS2, or a combined transit and ENS declaration in NCTS Phase 6 where the member state offers it.

ENS deadlines by transport mode

The deadlines below are the latest times for the filer; the ENS can be lodged at the earliest 200 days before arrival. Your carrier or forwarder needs your data before its own filing, so ask for its cut-off.

• Sea, containerised cargo: 24 hours before the container is loaded onto the vessel at the port of departure.
• Sea, non-containerised (bulk) cargo: 4 hours before the vessel arrives.
• Short sea routes: 2 hours before arrival at the first EU port, for example from Morocco, Greenland, the Faroe Islands or ports on the Baltic, North, Black and Mediterranean seas.
• Air: a minimum data set before the goods are loaded onto the aircraft; the full ENS by the actual departure for flights under 4 hours, otherwise 4 hours before arrival at the first EU airport.
• Road: 1 hour before arrival at the EU border (the first customs office of entry).
• Rail: 2 hours before arrival at the EU border.

What the exporter has to provide

Even though the carrier or a forwarder files, the data comes from your shipping instruction, commercial invoice and packing list, and it must match them. The Commission's road and rail factsheets ask for a detailed goods description with a six-digit HS code, details of the parties (consignor, consignee, buyer and seller) and transport information. For EU-bound containers, Hapag-Lloyd asks shippers for a six-digit HS code with an accurate and complete description and for the EORI number of the consignee established in the EU.

• A six-digit HS code for each goods line.
• A plain-language description by common trade name.
• Consignor, consignee, buyer and seller, with names and addresses.
• The EU consignee's EORI number, where the carrier asks for it.
• Packages, weights and marks consistent with the invoice, packing list and bill of lading.

Goods descriptions and the stop words list

The Commission's guidance on acceptable goods descriptions asks for a plain-language description precise enough for customs to identify the goods. General terms such as "consolidated", "general cargo", "parts" or "freight of all kinds" are not acceptable: instead of "spare parts", name the goods (pump, seals, engines); instead of "electronics", say computers, televisions or mobile phones.

The Commission also keeps a list of stop words. Finnish Customs explains that a goods description cannot consist only of terms such as "Vegan", "Attached manifest", "Spare parts" or "Garments". Portugal's Tax and Customs Authority announced an updated list in force from 3 August 2026 and warns that if a stop word is used alone as the goods description, the declaration may be rejected automatically. The full list is in the Commission's public CIRCABC library for ICS2.

What happens after filing

After risk analysis, customs may issue risk-mitigating referrals asking the filer for more information, for high-risk cargo and mail screening, or not to load the cargo; a referral must be answered before the risk assessment resumes. The Commission's factsheets warn that without a proper ENS, goods can be stopped at the EU border and not cleared, and inadequate declarations can be rejected or subject to intervention, with possible sanctions.