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[Updated April 2025]
Updates on ICS2: as of April 1, the EU Customs’ new security data collection system is mandatory for all maritime transport and a transitional period begins for land transport. Find out more and avoid delays, penalties and/or fines for your shipments.
What is ICS2?
ICS2 (Import Control System 2) is the new EU customs cargo data collection system designed to ensure that trade is safe and secure. This new system is in fact no more than an upgraded version of the old ICS and will affect all economic operators involved in goods transport as it is being phased in gradually.
The system collects data mainly through the Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) on all goods coming into the EU prior to their arrival, i.e. it concerns both goods entering the EU’s customs territory and also goods in transit.
ICS2 release dates
To facilitate the transition, the implementation of ICS2 is being carried out in phases and windows according to the mode of transport:
- From 03/01/23 to 10/01/23: general air transport, express air (in full), and postal air (in full).
- From 06/03/24 to 12/04/24: for maritime and inland waterway carriers.
- From 12/04/24 to 04/01/25: for operators submitting house bills of lading in maritime and inland waterway traffic.
- From 04/01/25 to 09/01/25: for road and rail carriers. In the case of roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) traffic (Combined Transport), both accompanied and unaccompanied, these same deadlines will apply.
Benefits of ICS2
The purpose of ICS2 is to enhance the safety and security of trade in such a way that it:
- Strengthens protection of EU citizens and the internal market against security and safety threats.
- Raises awareness of potential risks.
- Allows EU customs authorities to better identify high-risk consignments.
- Facilitates cross-border clearance for legitimate trade.
- Simplifies the exchange of information between economic operators and EU customs authorities.
Who does ICS2 affect?
The new ICS 2 directly affects all economic operators involved in handling, shipping and transporting cargo, express or postal consignments as they will need to file safety and security data with ICS2.
It also indirectly affects manufacturers, exporters and individuals from outside the EU who would like to send goods to or through the EU since they are initially responsible for supplying the necessary information to economic operators.
What additional information needs to be submitted?
The minimum security data which have to be provided are:
- Six-digit Harmonised System (HS) code for each shipped good.
- Detailed description of the goods and items shipped including gross weight, number of packages, and total number of packages according to the smallest outer packaging unit.
- Transport document number.
- Economic Operators Registration and Identification number (EORI) of the consignee.
- Name and address of the consignor.
- Name and address of the consignee.
Who sends the information?
Carriers and freight forwarders are primarily responsible for filing this information. The freight forwarder can either handle it directly or pass the information on to the carrier (land, air or sea). Although the importer can also submit the transmission independently as a self-declarant, it is highly recommended to entrust this process to your freight forwarder.
Other stakeholders such as handling companies may also be involved but only as organisations to which the carrier delegates tasks, i.e. the freight forwarder would not be released from their responsibility to make the notifications.
When should the information be transmitted?
- For air transport: the transmission must be completed before the flight arrives in the EU to facilitate the inspection of shipments before entry.
- For maritime transport: the information must be transmitted 24 hours before loading at the port of origin.
What happens if I don’t meet these ICS2 reporting requirements?
Failure to comply with this new legislation may result in customs authorities rejecting incomplete ENS or issuing risk mitigation recommendations at the pre-arrival stage, resulting in delays in processing the ENS and in the arrival of consignments and the entry process as the goods will be held up.
Apart from this, customs authorities may also decide to impose administrative penalties and fines in cases where data requirements are not met.
As logistics operators, we’ve reworked our processes to comply with this new regulation. If you need to get a quote for your airfreight and more information about the details required for ICS2 registration, just get in touch with our specialist team!
What is IFS Logistics certification?
IFS Logistics certification is a standard for the logistics industry which applies not only to the processing of food production and manufacturing but also to all related activities such as the storage, distribution and transport (air, sea, land and rail) of general and refrigerated cargo.
IFS Logistics is internationally recognised and in order to be valid must be issued by an authorised body who carry out an audit to ensure compliance with 98 requirements divided into the following six areas:
- Quality management system.
- Senior management responsibility.
- Resource management.
- Measurements, analysis and improvements.
- Contact with the product.
- Transport packaging.
Why IFS Logistics certification was created
The objectives of the standard are:
- To provide a basis upon which suppliers can be evaluated and compared in a fair and clear way.
- To provide transparency throughout the logistics chain.
- To save time and reduce costs for suppliers and distributors by enabling them to go directly to certified members without having to carry out new checks and/or private audits to establish their quality standards.
- To be able to work with already accredited bodies.
The advantages of a certified warehouse
The main advantages of having IFS Logistics certified warehousing are:
- The certification and logo showing that work is carried out in compliance with a series of quality and hygiene standards increases customer confidence.
- Working under a recognised standard avoids customers having to carry out their own audits to assess their suppliers.
- Audits are more impartial because they are carried out by third parties.
- Compliance with current food safety legislation is guaranteed.
- There is less risk of product contamination or deterioration.
- Comparison is easier.
IATA renews our CEIV Pharma certification and endorses us as a trusted logistics operator for transporting pharmaceutical products.
We export by air and sea for one of our retail customers, leading to significant savings for them in time and customs costs
We ship fashion garments and accessories by air, FCL and LCL to various Latin American countries for one of our retail customers. Our presence in the destination countries has enabled this customer to save on customs clearance and duty clearance and also benefit from shorter transit times and other value-added services which have simplified their logistics.
The experience of one of our customers with our retail logistics services
One of our retail customers regularly exports from Spain to a number of Latin American countries where we have a long-standing presence. Our position in countries such as Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic has enabled us to meet this customer’s logistics needs through a range of services tailored to their specific requirements.
To do this, we provide airfreight services, and regular LCL and FCL groupage every week, under the final destination DDP Incoterm (VAT excluded on behalf of the franchisee). In this type of services, we deliver straight to malls, shops and shopping centres to streamline their logistics.
Regular air, LCL and FCL shipments under the DDP Incoterm for fashion garments and accessories.
Value-added services for retail exports
Alongside international shipping, our division specialising in retail logistics has also provided our customer with other value-added services. In the case of FCL shipments in which furniture and window dressing were sent together with garments, accessories, boxes and packaging bags, we separated and picked the goods by shop. Likewise, in airfreight services the goods are pre-sorted at origin by the destination (point of sale) to be then sorted by the destination airport’s handling service.
Our customer also benefits from our special FLAT agreement with branches at destination for customs clearance which we handle at both origin and destination. As part of this customs service, we see to scaling 10-15 items/HS Code per SAD to 50-60 and up to 60 lines/HS Codes, including EUR.1 movement certificate issue in Spain, by separating origins/place of manufacture (everything that is EU does not have a EUR.1-1, China, India, etc.).
Since our customer is already authorised as a TSF, they make the deliveries at the airport and we take care of the rest of the operations up to delivery in the country or at the point of sale.
Our VAS include separation and picking of products by shop for sea shipments and sorting at origin for sorting by destination handling in the case of airfreight.
Benefits of exporting retail industry products
Our services and the improvements in the customer’s logistics enabled him to:
- Cut transit time from 18/19 days to 10/12 days in door-to-door services.
- Reduce documentary and customs/documents incidents, working the Price/EUR.1 with our destination office and the destination customs broker.
- Obtain advantages in duty clearance including credit to franchisees, an extremely complex process in Latin America as it is not common for the customs broker to pay taxes on their behalf.
- Establish an ad-hoc work shift for the airfreight team to offset the time difference with Latin American countries which enhances document management and coordination.
- Achieve successful FCL shipments with very urgent critical orders by coordinating the actions of up to four of our offices in different countries to ensure the goods arrive on time.
Find out more about the services provided by our division specialising in retail logistics and luxury goods export and import! Learn more about what our team can do to streamline your retail project logistics!
Benefit from the advantages of storage in our tax warehouse for alcoholic beverages subject to special taxes.
19/01/2021
If you want to apply for a VAT refund, you will need to have a representative resident in the territory of application of the tax who can be held jointly and severally liable in the event of an unjustified tax refund, and there also has to be what’s called reciprocal treatment. Reciprocity is generally considered to apply except for the fact that in the United Kingdom there will be no input or output VAT refunds:
- For goods and services acquired which are not used for business or professional activity.
- For goods and services which are intended for resale.
- For goods and services relating to shows or recreational services.
- For the purchase of a motor vehicle.
- 50% of the input VAT for renting or leasing a motor vehicle.
Consequently, UK operators who pay Spanish VAT have to apply for the refund in Spain using form 361. To do this they need to appoint a representative in Spain to handle the application and be jointly and severally liable for any improper applications.
Similarly, Spanish operators and others established in other EU countries that pay UK VAT should apply for a refund in the UK by appointing a representative in the UK.
Origin of goods
18/01/2021
The agreement in principle between the EU and the UK sets tariffs and quotas at 0% for all goods in import operations between the EU and the UK as long as the rules of origin set out in the Agreement are complied with.
To be eligible for a tariff preference at the time of making the import declaration, a statement on origin has to be made out by the exporter on an invoice or any other commercial document which describes the originating product in sufficient detail for it to be identified, following the text of one of the language versions set out in Annex ORIG-4.
EU exporters wishing to make out a statement on origin must be registered in the EU REX system as per relevant EU legislation (Article 68(1) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447).
EU-UK trade agreement
30/12/2020
After intensive negotiations, the European Commission finally reached an agreement with the United Kingdom on 24 December that will govern the future trade relations between the two parties. The draft Trade and Cooperation Agreement consists of three cornerstones:
- A Free Trade Agreement, a new economic and social partnership with the UK.
- A new partnership for the security of our citizens.
- A horizontal agreement on governance, a framework that stands the test of time.
Because the negotiations have been finalised at a very late stage and in order to be able to operate on the basis of the draft Agreement as of 1 January, the Commission has proposed to apply the Agreement on a provisional basis for a limited period of time until 28 February 2021, in the belief that the European Parliament will consent to the final signature of the Agreement before the expiry of the provisional period.
In terms of goods trading, as of 1 January and as a result of the draft agreement, the key piece of news is obviously the ban on the imposition of tariffs. Tariffs and quotas at 0% are established for all goods in import operations between the EU and the United Kingdom as long as the rules of origin set out in the Agreement are complied with.
What are vertical warehouses?
Automated vertical warehouses are storage modules designed to handle stocks of small bulk products automatically. They operate by height, i.e. making more use of vertical rather than horizontal space.
This automated warehouse system uses vertical lift technology. Gears, conveyor belts and a small lifting platform are used to reach each of the compartments in the storage block to pick the goods previously ordered.
Which sectors use automated vertical warehouses?
Vertical warehouses are designed for industries using traditional manual clad-rack warehouses in which there is relatively constant turnover and a specific volume of goods for both raw materials and small processed or semi-manufactured products. Vertical storage is also an outstanding logistics solution for picking long order runs consisting of few units.
Automated vertical storage is mainly addressed to the cosmetics and medical devices industry, although it also caters for other sectors such as electronics and automotive spare parts.
Advantages of automated warehousing
Our logistics facilities in Madrid and Barcelona have automated vertical warehouses. Their main advantages are:
- Less horizontal floor space required. This type of warehouse makes it possible to store a large number of SKUs in a small amount of horizontal space; for example, goods which would require 126 m2 in conventional racking can be stored in 9 m2.
- Shorter order picking times. These warehouses operate with software which groups orders by waves, thus fully optimising the movement of their trays. The software is integrated with our WMS and linked to a pick-to-light system which allows six orders to be processed at the same time. It also positions the product in front of the person getting the orders ready which means they do not have to go through the aisles equipped with manual picking lists.
- Above-zero temperature control option also available.
- Fewer administrative errors due to the guided picking system: the machine performs the picking operations and the operator only has to pick up the items which have been moved mechanically.
Contact our logistics and warehousing team and find out more about this type of storage.
On June 8, Vietnam ratified and approved the Free Trade Agreement with the EU. This is a large-scale trade agreement, since it will mean the elimination of 99% of customs duties within a maximum period of 10 years.
The entry into force of the agreement will mean the immediate elimination of 65% of tariffs on EU exports to Vietnam, and 71% of customs duties on imports from Vietnam to the EU, while the rest will be phased out.
The trade agreement between Vietnam and the EU will also eliminate some non-tariff barriers, such as the access of EU companies to public procurement in Vietnam; The protection of EU investments in the country will also be strengthened, and some products such as rice, garlic or eggs, although they will be free of tariffs, will have export limits.
Requirements to benefit from the preferential regime
Likewise, and with the entry into force of this Agreement, those exporters who want to benefit from preferential treatment with Vietnam must be registered in the REX Registry.
The REX system is a computer application that allows economic operators to self-certify the preferential origin of their merchandise. For this they must first be registered in a database maintained by the authorities of their country, becoming a registered exporter.
The Government of Vietnam is confident that this trade agreement and preferential treatment will activate trade relations with the European Union and that its exports to the EU will rise to 20% per cent in 2020 and 44% in 2030.
If you export to Vietnam and require our services to customs clearance your merchandise, or you need to obtain the figure of the exporter in the REX system, please contact us and we will assist you.
Find out about the measures for importing facemasks, ventilators and other medical devices necessary for the fight against covid.
VISIT THE CHILEAN TEAM AT STAND D41 AT THE WORLD BULK WINE EXHIBITION
Our team specialising in bulk wine transport will be at the stand to advise you on your flexitank wine exports and imports.
Come and see us at stand D41 and find out all about our specialised logistics solutions for transporting bulk wine in flexitanks!
WHAT IS THE WORLD BULK WINE EXHIBITION?
The WBWE is the most important international bulk wine exhibition, bringing together major international wine producers who produce 75% of all bulk wine for export.
The majority of the year’s bulk wine import and export business is done at the exhibition, making it the perfect place for your business to get to know new wineries, importers, traders and logistics service providers.
In addition to being the nerve centre of the bulk wine industry for two days, the World Bulk Wine Exhibition offers a variety of parallel activities such as seminars, tastings in The Silent Tasting Room where you can sample more than 400 different wines, food and wine pairings, and, of course, the annual bulk wine competition where a panel of judges from 17 countries on the five continents presents awards for the best wines.
The US has imposed additional ad valorem import duties of between 10% and 25% on 1,500 European products since October 18th. Get informed!
The consequences of the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU without an agreement
En el caso de que Reino Unido abandone la Unión Europea sin acuerdo previo, todos los
In the event that the United Kingdom leaves the European Union without a prior agreement, all trade between these states will be affected as the UK, for all intents and purposes, will be considered a third country.
This means that it will cease to have the benefits that all EU member states have:
- All VAT and special tax simplifications will be removed.
- Customs formalities and trade measures specific to the importation of goods from third countries will be reintroduced.
This will ultimately result in higher costs and a delay in the time taken to receive goods.
A customs declaration will be required on both the exit and arrival of goods in order to document their movement between EU member states and the UK.
Importing into the UK after Brexit
To import goods into the UK, simplified clearances will be possible:
- The operator will present a summary declaration at the end of the month.
- The duty will be paid by the 15th of the month following the entry date of the goods.
- If registered in the UK, the operator will be able to settle their import VAT charges using a differed VAT system.
The effects of Brexit on importing into the EU from the UK
Products imported into the EU from the UK will be subject to customs procedures intended for the import of products from third countries, i.e. all benefits of being an EU member will be lost and to clear the goods:
- An import SAD must be submitted.
- Depending on the nature of the goods, certain certificates, checks, prior authorisations or licences may be required.
- Relevant duties must be paid without benefitting from any tariff reductions.
- VAT payments are on an accrual basis.
The consequences of Brexit on exports to the UK
Where goods are exported from the EU to the UK the following must be submitted:
- The relevant export declaration.
- Depending on the goods, certain additional documentation.
If the UK’s exit from the EU affects your exports or imports and you would like to receive further information, contact our customs team
Atencion cliente EN
By Asun Cano
Customs Department
The Canary Islands are strengthening phytosanitary measures and from 16th April International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15) will be compulsory for the wood packaging and pallets of all their imports and exports under Order APA/1076/2018.
The regulation will affect all traffic and destinations (domestic, European Union and third countries) and its aim is to preserve the phytosanitary status of the archipelago with respect to pests and other harmful organisms that could be introduced in plant, plant product and other imports.
From 16th April the Canary Islands will apply ISPM 15 to the wood packaging and pallets of all their imports and exports.
What is ISPM 15?
La NIMF nº15 es un conjunto de directrices para reglamentar el embalaje de madera utilizado en el comercio internacional, cuyo propósito es minimizar el riesgo de introducción y/o propagación de plagas a través de embalajes de madera fabricados de madera en bruto.
ISPM 15 approved treatments
To comply with the regulations, wood must be disinfected in one of the following ways:
- Conventional heat treatment with steam or heating chamber, with HT marking.
- Heat treatment by dielectric heating, i.e. heating by electromagnetic radiation such as a microwave, with DH marking.
- Fumigation with Methyl Bromide, with MB marking.
ISPM 15 marking
The Canary Islands will only accept goods with valid markings on the wood packaging, dunnage or pallets. The mark indicating that the packaging complies with ISPM 15 is made up of the following components:
- The symbol of a spike with the letters IPPC, appearing to the left of the other components.
- ISO country code (XX).
- Treatment manufacturer/supplier code (000).
- Treatment code: HT, DH or MB (YY).
Which wood packaging and pallets are affected by the new phytosanitary regulations?
Compliance with ISPM 15, which is obligatory under Order APA/1076/2018, affects all wood with a thickness of more than 6 millimetres including, packing cases, boxes, crates, drums and similar packaging, pallets, box pallets and other load carriers, pallet collars and dunnage, whether or not used for the transport of goods of any kind.
Dunnage supporting shipments of wood (logs, sawn wood, etc.) will not be considered packing material but part of the shipment as long as:
- The dunnage is the same wood as that of the shipment.
- It meets the same phytosanitary requirements as the wood being shipped.
Which types of wood are exempt?
- Raw wood with a thickness of 6 mm or less.
- Wood packaging material entirely made of processed wood, such as plywood, chipboard, oriented strand board or veneer sheets produced using glue, heat or pressure, or a combination thereof.
- Wine and spirit barrels that have been heated during manufacture in such a way as to ensure that they are free from pests, as required by the above Order.
- Gift boxes for wine, cigars and other products made of wood that has been processed or manufactured in such a way that it is free from pests.
- Sawdust, wood shavings and wood wool.
- Wooden components permanently installed in vehicles or containers used for freight.
Our offices in Mozambique activate an urgent service for the shipment of aid to Mozambique
Faced with the devastating situation in Mozambique in the aftermath of cyclone Idai, our offices in Mozambique have set up a team to provide logistics services for the international shipment of humanitarian aid to Mozambique, transport services and warehousing in Beira and Chimoio.
Cyclone Idai has significantly damaged the country’s infrastructure affecting the distribution of aid in certain areas. We are making our experience in door-to-door delivery services available to aid agencies, covering the entire logistics chain and offering time-critical or just-in-time deliveries where urgency is paramount.
Request information for your humanitarian aid shipments and storage in Mozambique.
Request information for your humanitarian aid shipments and storage in Mozambique.
Humanitarian logistics projects in Mozambique
We provide logistics assistance to various NGOs working in the area with 4,000m2 of warehousing where we log and monitor donations, as well as distribution and delivery in affected areas.
THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS
- Collection and delivery of a reefer container to the Red Cross warehouse in Beira including a generator and fuel for 60-90 days.
- Warehouses and distribution in Beira and Chimoio.
- Customs clearance and transportation of approximately 13 tonnes of palletised medical supplies from Maputo to Chimoio.
WORLD VISION
- Transport and unloading of two containers and one vehicle to the warehouse in Beira.
- Warehouses in Beira and Chimoio.
THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION FOR MIGRATION
- Local transport within the city limits of Beira.
THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION
- Transfer of a reefer container from the port of Beira to the warehouse.
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN
- Durban to Beira shipments, customs clearance and delivery to World Central Kitchen facilities.
SAVE THE CHILDREN
- Warehouses in Beira.
Cyclone Idai
A major cyclone hit southeast Africa this March creating strong winds accompanied by torrential rain, causing severe flooding in Madagascar, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The cyclone has left nearly 1,000 dead and 1.8 million people in need of urgent assistance.
Dirty water, which has become stagnant in many areas, coupled with a lack of drinking water, is now generating the risk of outbreaks of cholera, diarrhoea and malaria. The shipment and distribution of humanitarian aid is therefore vital to rebuilding the area and preventing the spread of epidemics.