European Union Strengthens the Quality of Advance Cargo Information in the ICS2 System

The European Commission has announced an update to the list of terms and expressions that must not be used in specific fields of declarations submitted through the Import Control System 2 (ICS2). The updated list will apply from 3 August 2026 and aims to improve the accuracy of the information received by customs authorities before goods enter or transit through the territory of the European Union.

ICS2 enables responsible operators to submit advance security data for each shipment through the Entry Summary Declaration (ENS). The update restricts the use of overly generic, incomplete, or imprecise descriptions, commonly referred to as “stop words,” as they do not allow customs authorities to properly identify the goods or perform an effective risk analysis. The use of such terms may result in the automatic rejection of the declaration and require its resubmission with more detailed information.

An ENS declaration must include the information required according to the mode of transport and the type of operation, including clear details about the goods and the parties involved. When the information is incomplete or contains errors, European customs authorities may reject the declaration, request additional information, carry out specific controls, or cause delays in the clearance of the shipment. Administrative penalties may also apply for failure to comply with the applicable information requirements.

For Costa Rican companies, the key consideration is to provide their buyers, carriers, freight forwarders, or other responsible operators with complete, accurate, and timely information for each shipment. Although the ENS is generally submitted by the operator introducing or transporting the goods into the European Union, the data used in the declaration may originate from the exporter. Consequently, the quality of commercial and logistics documentation is essential. Responsibility for submitting the declaration may vary depending on the agreements among the parties involved in the supply chain.

With the updated list set to take effect, companies shipping goods to the European Union are encouraged to review the descriptions of their products and coordinate with their logistics operators to ensure that the information included in ICS2 declarations complies with the applicable requirements. The official updated list and supporting guidance materials are available through the European Commission’s documentation platform.