Newsletters

CLECAT’s Customs and Indirect Taxation Institute (CITI) met on the 17 February in a hybrid way in Brussels to discuss the recent policy developments in EU Customs impacting on customs agents and freight forwarders. The meeting received updates and recent information on Release 2 of the European Commission’s Import Control System 2 (ICS2) for goods transported by air to EU-27 destinations plus Norway and Switzerland (regardless of origin).  Whereas the official launch of the new system is on the 1^st March, there are deployment windows foreseen: airlines will still need to file their MAWB level data during the 1 March - 30 June window and then customer/forwarder house bill level data will need to be filed during the window of 1 July - 2 October.  The CITI reflected on the state of readiness of Member States and stakeholders and expressed concern on a number of unresolved issues and a lack of communication with national customs authorities. CLECAT will voice these questions and concerns at the Trade Contact Group meeting taking place on 28 February.  

Members also discussed the upcoming reform of the Customs Code which is not expected to be adopted by the European Commission before Easter. It was noted that the sector was facing a perfect storm, with the Commission and the Member States struggling to implement the IT systems to complete the Union Customs Code, while the sector is expecting a customs reform that will fundamentally reshape the customs level playing field.

Members discussed the impact of the agreement on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) for customs representatives who provide services to importers which are not established in the EU under indirect representation.  

Finally, some post-Brexit topics were discussed such as the migration from CHIEF to CDS and the upcoming Target Operating Model (TOM) which is expected to be published in March.