Alert: European Commission Updates ICS2 Stop-Words - Action Required for Accurate ENS Submissions

The European Commission has updated the list of “Stop Words”. These terms are deemed to indicate insufficient data quality during the Entry Summary Declarations (ENS) and may lead to automatic filing rejections under Import Control System 2 (ICS2), with potential consequences for supply chain reliability and regulatory compliance. The update forms part of the ongoing implementation of ICS2 and can be downloaded from the CIRCABC platform.

This development further underlines the importance of providing high-quality, accurate, and descriptive cargo data to ensure smooth cargo clearance under ICS2, as outlined in the joint Guidance Note developed by FIATA and the Global Shippers Forum (GSF) on Enhancing Data Quality and Information Exchange for the EU ICS2 Regime.

Action points

1. Ensure ongoing compliance with ICS2 by accessing the updated list of "Stop Words".
2. Review the FIATA–GSF Guidance Note on Enhancing Data Quality and Informaton Exchange for the EU ICS2 regime. This document outlines practical measures to improve information exchange between shippers, freight forwarders, and other supply chain actors, and to support smoother ICS2 compliance.
3. Update systems and processes to align with the current messaging specifications to avoid disruptions to filing activities, as the previous version of ICS2 (v2) messaging will be decommissioned on 3 February 2026
4. Clearly communicate data requirements with clients to raise awareness and improve data input quality.

For any questions or feedback regarding ICS2 implementation, please do not hesitate to contact legal@fiata.org.