The Union is stepping up against the importation of dangerous goods

From 15 March 2021, postal services and express air carriers must be connected to the Import Control System (ICS2). The European Union (EU) strengthens its defense against the import of dangerous or illegal goods into its territory. The customs authorities must receive all the necessary information before the consignments arrive at the borders of the Union. Martina Rybanská, the spokeswoman for the financial administration, informed about it, stating that the pan-European ICS2 system will start operating from next week. All data on goods will be collected and analyzed in ICS2 before they reach the EU's borders. Customs authorities, including the financial administration, will thus be able to thoroughly verify that consignments coming from third countries do not pose a security and safety risk. In this way, they can identify in a timely and better way, for example, the import of weapons, explosives, dual-use goods, biological, chemical, radiological or nuclear material. Traders and carriers will connect to the system in three phases. In the first, there are postal services and express companies in the field of air transport, in which the analysis can help to discover, for example, the hiding place of an improvised explosive device or incendiary device in transported goods before loading the goods into a means of transport in a third country. Exemptions for summary declarations are abolished for EU-based express carriers and postal operators. Full PCV data will need to be provided before the goods arrive at the first point of entry into the EU customs territory. If carriers do not prepare an update of IT systems and adapt their business processes, cargo at EU borders may be suspended, customs declarations will be rejected and the goods will remain duty-free. They are also subject to sanctions. Sending security data on goods before they enter the EU will ensure that they are cleared quickly and efficiently. The next phase follows from March 1, 2023, when general air freight will have to be connected to the system. The third phase will come from 1 March 2024. It includes rail, road and maritime transport.