Europe’s new customs system for cargo, called Import Control System 2 (ICS2), is now in force, but confusion over its rollout is creating headaches for UK freight and logistics businesses.
ICS2 became mandatory for several EU member states on January 1, including Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Lithuania, Hungary, Finland, Greece, and Bulgaria. The rules require advance shipment notices for goods moving into those countries. Other EU states, including Croatia, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, have temporary derogations that allow them to keep using the older ICS1 system until June 1. The goal is to give customs officials more time to review cargo for safety and security before it arrives.
In practice, however, some carriers remain unsure how the rules are being applied, and enforcement across the EU has been inconsistent. Some trucks with missing paperwork are reportedly being waved through borders, while in other cases, carriers aren’t even stopping to complete the required forms.
Zelir Logistics Director Joe Jeffery said the mixed approach is causing real uncertainty.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty and mixed messaging around this roll-out,” he told Logistics Business. “We’re getting reports that transporters who haven’t got the documents are not being stopped at the border. Some carriers don’t even know what ICS2 is, and others are not sure what the rules mean.”
He added that, because enforcement isn’t yet uniform, many hauliers have let compliance slip down their to-do lists.
“As a result, there are many carriers who haven’t implemented ICS2 yet, and when they don’t see it being enforced, it slips further down the priority list.”
Another change is coming that could make ICS2 preparedness even more important: France’s Smart Border system and the Obligatory Logistics Envelope (ELO) requirement. Jeffery said that while ELO has been delayed, it’s inevitable and that operators won’t be able to use it unless they are already submitting ICS2 filings.
Zelir estimates that only about 60% of operators moving goods have completed ICS2 filings to date, and the company is urging its clients not to gamble on whether enforcement will follow later.
ICS2 requires detailed shipment information, including what is being carried, who is sending and receiving it, and other key details, before the goods reach the first EU customs office. If declarations aren’t submitted correctly, shipments could be delayed, held, or even turned back at the border.
The rollout’s uneven enforcement reflects broader challenges as member states connect their national systems to the EU platform and adjust to new procedures. Some countries have already begun full compliance checks, while others are offering temporary grace periods, meaning the real impact of ICS2 may not be felt until later in 2026.
