GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026

Import Control System

A freight forwarder shipping goods into the EU by sea faces a firm obligation: before the vessel leaves the port of loading, cargo data must be filed electronically in the Import Control System.

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Last updated: 22 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/customs-4/customs-security/import-control-system-2-ics2_en

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Definition & Explanation

A freight forwarder shipping goods into the EU by sea faces a firm obligation: before the vessel leaves the port of loading, cargo data must be filed electronically in the Import Control System. An Import Control System (ICS) is a customs authority's electronic platform through which carriers and freight forwarders submit advance cargo information for inbound shipments, enabling risk-based security screening before goods physically enter the customs territory. The system processes commodity descriptions, origin, shipper, and consignee details, matching them against risk profiles to flag consignments that warrant closer examination. In the European Union, the original ICS is being progressively replaced by ICS2 under the Union Customs Code, introducing more granular data requirements and phased pre-arrival filing obligations across all modes of transport. For forwarders and shippers, timely and accurate submission is mandatory: incomplete or late filings can trigger holds, delay clearance, and generate additional storage or demurrage charges.