Frequently asked questions about entry summary declaration for goods shipped by sea

The main responsibility for submitting an entry summary declaration lies with the transport undertaking or their agent. For example, a forwarding agent may provide information that the transport undertaking needs to submit an entry summary declaration.

An entry summary declaration can be submitted at the earliest 200 days prior to the arrival of the means of transport.

The submission deadline depends on the mode of transportation of your goods:

• For transport by air, an entry summary declaration should be submitted prior to loading in the third country.
• Deadlines for other means of transport can be found here.
  

Consignors and consignees are not directly involved in the entry summary declaration, unless they hold additional necessary data. This information can then be requested from them by the transport undertaking.

Manuals, learning materials and test materials can be found on the website of the European Commission ICS2 EO Self-Conformance Documentation

Your role is determined by what consignment information you manage and file.

• A maritime carrier files information at master consignment level. This includes vessel number, route, times of departure and arrival, custom office of first entry (COFE), container list etc.
  
  The carrier is usually the person introducing the goods or the person responsible for transporting the goods to the customs territory of the Union. According to the ICS2-HTI definitions, a carrier is defined as follows:
  
  “Carrier means in the context of entry, the person who brings the goods, or who assumes responsibility for the carriage of the goods, into the customs territory of the Union. However,
  
  1) in the case of combined transportation, ‘carrier’ means the person who operates the means of transport which, once brought into the customs territory of the Union, moves by itself as an active means of transport;
  
  2) in the case of maritime or air traffic under a vessel-sharing or contracting arrangement, "carrier" means the person who concludes a contract and issues a bill of lading or air waybill for the actual carriage of the goods into the customs territory of the Union.”
• A maritime house filer holds and files information about goods at house consignment level. They have more details about a consignment, such as information about the consignor and the consignee (e.g. name, e-mail address, telephone number) and information about the contents of the consignment (e.g. description of the goods).
  
  A house filer can be a haulage company, a ground handling agent, an importer, a shipbroker or similar.

Documentation about ICS2 Release 3 and explanations about business roles can be found here (download the zip file ICS2-HTI for definitions).

In the event of technical problems, such as login details to online services, error messages, registration in STI-STP, you can contact us via our contact form for Technical issues.

If you have functional questions about, for example, data filing, deadlines, process issues, online services, clarification on certificates, you can contact us via our contact form for trade and customs related questions.

If you have any questions regarding conformance testing: registration to conduct conformance tests and support during testing, please contact ICS2.helpdesk@tullverket.se

Complete the entry summary declaration according to the specifications and associated business rules. You can download the material from the European Commission's library.

• ICS2 Common Technical System Specifications
  These are the technical specifications and include, for example, IE message S2S. You can also see which information is mandatory and which is optional.
• ICS2 Common Functional System Specifications
  Contains the functional specifications, such as code lists, definitions, rules and values.

The extent to which you need to consult the different specifications depends on whether you are using a system-to-system (S2S) solution or the web interface to submit the information. Please consult both specifications to get the full picture.

You should contact the country where the company's EORI was issued, for example a company with a Swedish EORI should contact Swedish Customs.

If the company does not have an EORI number, it should apply for an EORI number in the country where the first customs procedure takes place. The company should subsequently schedule system tests.

In order to be able to submit data in ICS2, the company needs to complete successful tests. You need an EORI number, access to Swedish Customs' online services and a signature certificate. Then you can schedule a test with ICS2.helpdesk@tullverket.se. 

Learn more on How to submit information in the new import control system, ICS2..

As an economic operator, you have three options when filing data in ICS2?

• Your own system that is compatible with the specifications for ICS2 R3. You should have successfully run the self-conformance tests.
  Follow the instructions in ‘How to submit information in the new import control system, ICS2’.
• An ITSP system that is compatible with the specifications for ICS2 R3. You should have successfully run the self-conformance tests for the ITSP.
  Follow the instructions in ‘How to submit information in the new import control system, ICS2’.
• The common STI-STP user interface (Shared Trader Interface/Shared Trader Portal). You need an EORI number and to signed in to EUCTP (STI-STP) via UUM&DS authentication and identification. Here you can enter all the necessary data in accordance with the Common Functional Technical Specification.
  Link to ‘Apply and declare/Online services for businesses/Entry Summary Declaration in STI/STP’ (in Swedish).