The EU Commission has published message specifications on the Circab website for the messages to be deployed. There will be new entry declaration messages, and the data content of the old messages will change.
Message abbreviations
The messages are numbered according to their use. Messages beginning with IE3F are entry summary declarations that message declarants send to the EU’s ICS2 system. The data contents of entry summary declarations vary depending on the mode of transport, on who submits the declaration and on whether a declaration with all details or only partial details is provided. For example, the messages IE3F10–IE3F17 are entry summary declarations for maritime cargo and the messages IE3F20–IE3F29 are entry summary declarations for air cargo.
The new message declarations are numbered as follows:
- Messages beginning with IE3A are amendment requests sent by message declarants.
- For example, amendment of the message IE3F20 details is requested using the message IE3A20.
- Messages beginning with IE3Q are used e.g. for requesting additional information from the declarant (IE3Q02) or the declarant can request invalidation of the declaration (IE3Q04).
- Messages beginning with IE3R are responses.
- IE3R01 is a response sent to inform the declarant of the registration of the entry summary declaration and of the MRN issued to the declaration.
- Messages beginning with IE3N are various notifications.
- IE3N06 is a notification sent by the message declarant of the arrival of the goods, i.e. an arrival notification.
- IE3N08 is a control notification sent to the customer.
Where to find the message specifications
Read about the ICS2 Release 2 – air transport – message specifications and customer testing on the EU’s Circabc website, in the public group “ICS2 Release 2: air cargo general, postal and express pre-arrival”.
The message data requirements can be downloaded from the folder “ICS2 Common Functional System Specifications”. Open the latest version (ICS2-HTI-v2.01.zip) of the folder “ICS2-HTI”, download it and select the folder ”ICS-HTI-IE”. Under the subfolder ”HTI-IEs", you can choose whether to view the data contents in text format (RTF) or in spreadsheet format (XLS).
The data content of each message is in a separate file. The message abbreviation is used as the file name. The abbreviations of the declaration messages used in different modes of transport as well as the message names will be published later on this page.
Read more about the new and updated ICS2 Release 3 – maritime, rail and road transport – message specifications on the EU’s Circabc website, in the public group ” ICS2 Release 3: maritime, road, rail and postal and express goods transported via those modes”.
On 1 March 2023, air traffic will start using
- new declarations for airlines
- new declarations for express freight companies
On 1 July 2023, air traffic will start using
- updated declarations by postal operators
- new security data declarations on information in house-level consignment notes
If your company intends to start as a message declarant in air traffic, but is unable to deploy messages at the required time, your company can apply for a transition period.
Operators submitting security data declarations on information in house-level consignment notes
When talking about operators who submit security data declarations on information in house level consignment notes, this means for example consignors based outside the EU or forwarding agencies that represent importers in the EU that are unable to provide airlines with the data required for them to submit complete entry summary declarations. Operators can arrange with airlines so that operators themselves submit the required house level consignment note details with their own entry summary declarations to the Commission’s CR system. Such operators are referred to as “house level filers” in the EU’s English-language materials.
Who can apply for a transition period?
Companies responsible for declarations can apply for transition periods. Representatives of such declarants who submit messages and service providers responsible for transmission of messages cannot apply for transition periods for themselves. Instead, they can apply for transition periods on behalf of declarants.
You can apply for a transition period with Finnish Customs Businesses when your company has an EORI number issued in Finland. If for example an airline or a consignor based outside the EU has an EORI number issued in another EU member state, the said operator must apply for an extension period with the EU member state responsible for the EORI registration.
How to apply for a transition period?
Be sure to apply for a transition period by 1 February 2023 at the latest. Include the following information in your application:
- The name and EORI number of your company
- One of the following roles in which you are submitting declarations:
- airline
- express freight company
- postal operator
- house level filer
- Declaration messages that your company plans to submit
- Statement of reasons for the transition period
- For example, indicate the joint schedule planned with submitters of partial declaration data included in the supply chain.
- Duration of the transition period you are applying for
- start and end dates of the transition period
- Airlines: you can apply for a transition period for the time window between 1 March and 30 June 2023.
- Express freight companies: you can apply for a transition period for the time window between 1 March and 1 October 2023.
- Postal operators and house level filers: you can apply for a transition period for the time window between 1 July and 1 October 2023.
- the date when you intend to start using the new declarations.
- start and end dates of the transition period
Email your application to ucc(at)tulli.fi.