From Monday 1st September, all road hauliers entering the European Union, Norway, Switzerland, and Northern Ireland will be obliged to file an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) under the EU’s new Import Control System 2 (ICS2).

While some countries have postponed the mandatory roll-out, others are pressing ahead – raising fears of confusion, penalties and queues at the borders.

Road transport operators must now file an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) using ICS2 starting 1st September.

Aware of delays in Member States’ implementation, the European Commission has allowed them to postpone deployment. The result is a fragmented situation: some Member States are ready, while others have deferred.

This patchwork creates confusion for operators. Even if a company is based in a country that postponed application, it must still check from where its goods will enter the EU. According to the Commission, if entry is through a Member State already applying ICS2, the ENS must be logged in the new system.

A two-speed system exposes operators to penalties and forces difficult decisions on routing goods, while customs authorities may struggle with incomplete or missing ENS declarations. This risks long queues and severe disruptions at external borders.