Get ready for Import Control System 2 (ICS2)

11 December 2025

ICS2 will become mandatory from 31 December for all those moving goods from GB to NI.

ICS2 will become mandatory from 31 December for all those moving goods from GB to NI

Import Control System 2 (ICS2) is the new IT system for submitting entry summary (ENS) declarations, arrival notifications, and presentation of goods notifications, replacing Import Control System Northern Ireland (ICSNI) for goods entering Northern Ireland, and Import Control System 1 (ICS1) for goods entering the EU.

After 31 December 2025, hauliers and carriers must use ICS2 to continue to make ENS declarations when moving goods from:

Great Britain (GB) to Northern Ireland (NI)
countries outside the EU into NI
GB to the EU

What you need to do now

Check whether your haulier or carrier has migrated to ICS2, or ask them for their start date, if they still need to migrate.

Make sure your supply chain has the extra ICS2-specific data they require to submit ENS declarations to keep your goods moving smoothly.

Be aware that if:

you’re moving goods into NI, your haulier must use ICS2 from 31 December 2025
you’re moving goods into the EU, you should be aware that different EU countries will start using ICS2 at different times – and in some cases, will already be using ICS2 for road and rail movements, meaning you may need to start providing your hauliers additional information for ICS2 for some movements sooner than others

As a reminder, the type of information required for ICS2 includes: 

an accurate description of the goods – read guidance on acceptable and unacceptable terms for the description of goods (PDF, 617KB) for more information on the new 'stop words' being introduced within ICS2
the commodity code at item level (6-8 digits) – more information can be found on the NI online tariff tool
amount of goods (mass)
buyer and seller information
place of delivery
additional information or supporting documents (such as licences or certificates)
arrival notification – for unaccompanied roll-on roll-off (RoRo) only
presentation of goods notification

Roles and responsibilities

The haulier or carrier is legally responsible for submitting ENS declarations within the legally mandated deadlines. Hauliers and carriers are also responsible for ensuring arrival and presentation of goods notifications are submitted into ICS2.

A third party may submit ENS declarations on the carrier’s behalf, but this must only be done by a representative or third party with the carrier’s knowledge and consent.

Commercial terms and conditions should be used when arranging for a third party to file on the carrier’s behalf. This may involve amending an existing contract or creating a new one.