FAQ - Entry summary declarations and ICS2

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.

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..

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.

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).