Import Control System 2: ICS2
ICS2, the Import Control System 2, sets new standards for collecting data on goods from third countries before they are imported into the common security area. This approach primarily affects the processes of postal operators, express courier companies, and air transport carriers, who must adapt their operations.
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ICS2 stands for Import Control System 2, which is an advance cargo information system. It collects data on all goods from third countries before they are imported into the common security area (Switzerland, the European Union (EU), Norway and Northern Ireland).
It is based on the signed Agreement on Customs Facilitation and Security between Switzerland and the European Union.
Questions about ICS2?
In Switzerland, this mainly concerns postal operators and express courier companies in air transport, carriers and ground handling agents in air transport, and basically all companies which use multiple filling (regardless of the type of transport).
ICS2 will be implemented in three phases (releases). Each release concerns different economic operators and transport models; they will declare their goods in ICS2 depending on the type of services they provide (ICS2 users according to Release: ICS2 – Publications Office of the EU (europa.eu)).
Release 3 is currently being prepared, which will be introduced in phases.
However, Release 3 has no direct impact on Swiss economic operators, unless they wish to participate in multiple filing as house level filers.
For more information on ICS2, please see the following links for the most frequently asked questions: