The European Commission (EC) is urging the air cargo industry to prepare for new rules that from March next year will require the submission of advanced shipment information before air cargo is loaded.

The EC said that the new rules mean that all freight forwarders, air carriers, express couriers, and postal operators transporting goods to or through the European Union (EU), including Norway and Switzerland, will be required to submit advance cargo information in the form of a complete entry summary declaration (ENS) as part of the second phase of the new customs pre-arrival security and safety programme – Import Control System 2 (ICS2) Release 2.

The EC said that companies are strongly advised to prepare in advance for Release 2, in order to avoid the risk of delays and non-compliance.

The information previously needed be submitted four hours before arrival, but will now need to be input before shipments are loaded onto an aircraft.

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