The goods description on your ICS2 ENS declaration is one of the most common reasons shipments get rejected at the EU border. A description that worked fine under the old ICS1 system will now trigger an automatic rejection from ICS2's validation engine — sometimes without a human ever seeing it. Why Goods Descriptions Matter So Much Now Under ICS1, customs officers reviewed declarations and used judgement when descriptions were vague. Under ICS2, declarations are screened fir

If you're a UK haulier moving accompanied freight into the European Union, you now need an EU or XI EORI number to file your ICS2 Entry Summary Declaration. Without one, your declaration will be rejected and your shipment will not be allowed into the EU. This guide walks you through exactly how to apply: which type of EORI you actually need, the application process in the main EU countries, what documents to prepare, and how long it takes. What Is an EU EORI Number? EORI stan

In a previous post, we looked at when an empty ICS2 EU ENS is required. But when the need arises, how do you actually submit one? For an empty ENS declaration with a transport contract, the empty vehicle must be added to the declaration in the goods section. Here's how to complete the key fields: Consignor and Consignee – Use the trailer owner's details. Goods Description – Enter something like "Empty 32-tonne trailer." Gross Mass – Provide the weight of the empty vehicle. Pa

If your business involves moving goods between the United Kingdom and France, there is a crucial regulatory update you need to prepare for. French Customs has announced that the Obligatory Logistics Envelope (ELO) will become officially mandatory starting April 20, 2026. Here is everything you need to know about this key transition for RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) trade and how to keep your freight moving smoothly across the Smart Border. What is ELO? First deployed in the spring

The clock is ticking on the biggest change to European safety and security declarations in years. From January 2026, the Import Control System 2 (ICS2) becomes mandatory for all goods entering the EU or Northern Ireland via road, rail, and sea. If you move freight across the border, you likely already file an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS). However, the ICS2 update introduces strict new data requirements. Failing to provide this extra data will result in your goods being sto

Cross-channel trade is facing its biggest operational shift since Brexit. Starting in the beginning of 2026 (no exact date yet), France will strictly enforce the Obligatory Logistics Envelope (ELO) for all goods entering from Great Britain. While the system has been available for optional use since April 2025, the transition to a mandatory requirement marks a critical turning point. If you are a haulier, freight forwarder, or customs agent, the "wait and see" period is over.

A Complete Compliance Guide With the rollout of Import Control System 2 (ICS2), regulations for moving goods into the European Union are tightening. For GB hauliers and logistics providers, one of the most common confusion points is the Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number. If you are moving accompanied freight into the EU, relying solely on your GB EORI number is no longer enough. This guide explains the specific EORI requirements for ICS2 and pro

If you are involved in filing Entry Summary Declarations (ENS) for goods entering the European Union, you may have noticed a tightening of the rules regarding how goods are described. As part of the Import Control System 2 (ICS2) Release 2 and the upcoming Release 3, the EU is implementing a stricter validation mechanism known as Stop Words. You can download the list of the stop words here: https://circabc.europa.eu/ui/group/18fb5859-3970-4ac5-b30b-6604977a15a7/library/7dac0c

An Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) is a type of Safety and Security Declaration (SSD) used by border authorities to assess the potential risks of goods crossing the border. In a way, the ENS is like a simplified version of an import declaration, as all the information included in an ENS can also be found in import declarations. So, you might wonder, what’s the point of duplicating data and creating additional work? The government's response is that while the main purpose of i

This question comes up all the time, and the answer is: it depends. While there isn’t explicit guidance in the legislation for GB ENS (also known as S&S GB) declarations, HMRC has confirmed that the rules align with those for EU ENS declarations: If the movement is under a transport contract (for Hire or Reward), it needs an ENS. What does this mean? Even if the vehicle being transported is empty, an ENS is required if the movement is part of a transport contract. The key fac