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Import Control System 2 (ICS2)


ICS2 is a new IT system created to collect data about all goods entering the EU prior to their arrival. Economic Operators (EOs) will have to declare safety and security data to ICS2, through the Entry Summary Declaration (ENS).

The system aims to better protect Europe’s single market and its citizens with new customs safety and security measures and will facilitate free flow of trade through improved data-driven customs security processes, adapted to global business models.

The first release of ICS2 was deployed on the 1st. of October 2021, where it required Maltapost to file an ENS with pre-loading information only. Nonetheless, the second release will require Maltapost, the air carriers and air cargo freight forwarders to file a complete ENS for all goods entering the EU. ICS2 Release 2, will go into production on the 1st. of March 2023.

Overview of the National plan

Registration and Implementation

The Department of Customs is planning to launch its National Entry System (NES) in mid-June2023. Economic Operators (EOs) are allowed to start their operations either together with the Department of Customs or at a later date, within the predefined deployment windows according to the EOs role. The different roles and relating deployment windows are found hereunder:

  • Air Carriers may opt to start operations by not later than the 1st of July 2023
  • Postal Services, Air Express Operators and Air Freight forwarders (i.e. issuers of HAWB) may opt to start operations by not later than the 2nd of October 2023
 

Economic Operators (EOs) that need to file an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS)


EOs that registered their EORI number with the Maltese Department of Customs that provide Postal, Air Carrier, Air Express Operators and Air Cargo Freight Forwarders (i.e. issuers of HAWB) services. In the eventuality that an EO is registered with more than one Member State (MS), then the EO in question must register its intentions with regards to ICS2 R2 operations with one MS.

EOs have to seek approval from the Maltese Department of Customs prior entering into operations


EOs providing Postal, Air Carrier, Air Express Operators and Air Cargo Freight Forwarders services, must seek approval from the Maltese Department of Customs prior entering into operations. An e-mail with the following information must be submitted to [email protected]before the 1st of March 2023.

  • EORI Number (Must be registered with the Maltese Department of Customs)
  • Name of Organisation
  • Contact Details (Name, Surname, E-mail and Telephone number of contact person)
  • EO Role (Whether Postal, Air Carrier, Air Express Operator or Air Freight Forwarder)
  • Inform whether your organisation operates in another Member State (An EO can operate in more than one Member State but only register for ICS2 R2 purposes in the MS where the EO is situated)
  • Intended date of Entry into Operations (Air Carriers must enter into operations by not later than the 1st of July 2023, while Postal, Air Express Operators and Air Freight Forwarder must enter into operations by not later than 2nd of October 2023)

EOs that wish to use an IT Service Provider (ITSP), need to inform the Maltese Department of Customs
EOs that wish to make use of an ITSP must inform the Maltese Department of Customs accordingly. An e-mail with the following information must be submitted to [email protected]

  • EO must provide
    • EORI Number (Must be registered with the Maltese Department of Customs)
    • Name of Organisation
    • Contact Details (Name, Surname, E-mail and Telephone number of contact person)
    • EO Role (Whether Postal, Air Carrier, Air Express Operator or Air Freight Forwarder)
    • Inform whether your organisation operates in another Member State (An EO can operate in more than one Member State but only register for ICS2 R2 purposes in the MS where the EO is situated)
  • EO must declare the representing ITSP
    • ITSP EORI Number
    • ITSP Name of Organisation
    • ITSP Contact Details (Name, Surname, E-mail and Telephone number of contact person)
    • Intended date of Entry into Operations (Air Carriers must enter into operations by not later than the 1st of July 2023, while Postal, Air Express Operators and Air Freight Forwarder must enter into operations by not later than 2nd of October 2023)

EOs need to present their plan to the Maltese Department of Customs?
EOs or their ITSP are required to submit their Economic Operator (EO) National Project Plan to [email protected]

EOs applying for an ICS2 R2 user account
ICS2 user accounts will only be provided once all the formalities listed above have been completed by the EO or by their ITSP. Inform the Maltese Department of Customs on the need for an ICS2 user account on [email protected]

Shared Trader Interface (STI) of ICS2

The European Commission is providing the Economic Operators (EOs) two alternatives to file their Entry Summary Declarations (ENSs) into the Central Repository (CR) of the ICS2, via the Shared Trader Interface (STI). EOs can opt to file their ENSs via the Graphical User Interface (GUI) component or through the System-To-System (SToS) component of the STI. While the GUI option require EOs to manually file ENSs and it is more suitable to EOs with low volumes of movements, the SToS requires EOs to develop their own system, which will allow them to file ENSs automatically. The technical specifications for the development and integration of the SToS component can be found in the Informational Resources for ICS2 Release 2 far below.

Arrival Notification (AN), Presentation Notification (PN) & Temporary Storage (TS)

A new system, namely the AN, PN & TS system will replace the current Manifest system in 2023. As with every application in use within the Department of Customs, the Economic Operators (EOs) will be able to file their declarations via a Graphical User Interface (GUI) component. Nonetheless, a System-To-System (SToS) component will be made available for the EOs that would prefer to file their declarations automatically rather than input their declarations manually via the GUI component. The technical specifications for the development and integration of the SToS component are planned to be issued around mid-May 2023.

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