Everything You Need to Know About ICS2 and HS Codes

In case you missed the news, the European Union has announced a new customer pre-arrival security and safety programme.

Within this upgrade is also a large-scale advanced cargo information system. It will be known as Import Control System 2, or ICS2.

What that means for ecommerce business owners and logistics managers is that shipping parcels to Europe will be a little different from March 1, 2023.

So before you book your courier with the Interparcel Shipping Manager or our website, familiarise yourself with ICS2 and HS Codes and what it means for your European parcels moving forward.

What is Happening?

Effective March 1, 2023, the European Union will launch phase two of its Import Control System, ICS2. It applies to all goods entering or transiting through the EU, including Norway and Switzerland.

ICS2 aims to better protect the EU’s single market and citizens with new customs safety and security measures. It requires advanced cargo information for all goods entering the EU.

What Do You Need to Do?

You must provide a complete and accurate description of all the goods you’re sending to the EU. Vague descriptions such as “samples”, “clothes”, and “goods” will no longer be accepted.

You must also include a Harmonised System (HS) code for each item you’re shipping.

Thankfully, the Interparcel website and Shipping Manager are ready to capture all the necessary information for your parcels. When booking your package, you’ll notice some new fields asking for further details.

• In the Parcel Contents section, you’ll see a field for HS Code. Click the search icon to go to the next screen.
• If you don't already know your HS Code, a Quick Select menu will appear, allowing you to choose from dozens of items. Alternatively, enter a detailed description to search for your code.
• If your item can’t be found based on your description, suggestions will appear that you can use to determine your HS Code.
• Once you select the HS Code, it will be auto-filled on the Parcel Contents page.
• Finally, enter a detailed item description, the quantity you’re sending, the manufacturer's origin and the product's value to finalise the order. Repeat the process with anything else you’re shipping to the EU.

What Happens if You Don’t Include a HS Code?

It’s vital that you adjust to the new process of shipping a package to the European Union. If you enter a wrong HS Code or you are not giving a complete and accurate item description:

• Your parcel will get stopped at the EU customs borders.
• The box will not get cleared by the authorities.
• Declarations deemed inadequate will get rejected or be subject to intervention. There may also be sanctions imposed due to non-compliance.
• Your item may be returned at your expense.

It will also impact your customer experience and could result in negative reviews for your business if buyers don’t receive their items on time. So, it’s recommended that you familiarise yourself with these changes and make the necessary adjustments when shipping parcels to Europe.

Find Out More

These changes are phase two of the ICS2 project. It impacts postal operators, express carriers, third-country postal operators and air carriers. They come into effect from March 1, 2023. So you’ll need to ensure you add an HS Code and detailed item description to your parcels going to Europe from this date.

If you update the HS Code within your Shopify story or through WooCommerce, it will automatically get updated on the Inventory page in the Interparcel dashboard.

Speaking of our dashboard, the Interparcel website and Shipping Manager has been updated so that you can enter HS Codes for all parcels going to Europe. Head over to familiarise yourself with the changes or learn more about ICS2 at the European Customs website.