EU Freight and Customs Round‑Up

EU Freight and Customs Round‑Up

Sep 3, 2025 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The movement of goods between Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the EU is entering one of its most challenging and complex periods in recent years. Regulatory changes are reshaping established routes, creating new administrative demands, and raising questions about supply chain resilience.

From the phased enforcement of ICS2 safety and security filings, to the evolving requirements of the Windsor Framework and the digitalisation of EU border controls, operators are facing a series of overlapping obligations. Understanding and preparing for these changes will be critical to maintaining efficiency, avoiding disruption, and keeping trade moving in the months ahead.

ICS2 Phase 3 Staggered Rollout

The EU’s ICS2 Release 3 – requiring detailed safety and security filings for road and rail freight – was due to become fully mandatory on 1 September 2025. While the system itself is active, several Member States have secured temporary derogations delaying enforcement until December 2025.

Germany and the Netherlands, however, are pressing ahead, meaning accompanied RoRo shipments to those markets may face compliance risks if operators are unprepared. Northern Ireland RoRo traffic has also been given a phased start, with the new TIMS platform offering a gradual introduction later this year.

The patchwork of deadlines across Europe underscores the need for close monitoring and proactive compliance to avoid penalties and delays.

GB–NI Trade Under Pressure

The Windsor Framework remains a source of disruption for operators moving goods between GB and Northern Ireland. Complicated “at risk” classifications, excessive paperwork, and inconsistent enforcement are driving inefficiency and higher costs.

Some suppliers are rerouting freight via Dublin rather than using the Irish Sea, while consumers in NI face reduced product choice as online sellers and retailers scale back deliveries.

Industry bodies argue that reforms such as classifying goods at the point of sale and simplifying Just-in-Time exemptions are urgently needed to stabilise trade volumes and restore reliability.

EU Entry/Exit System

The EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) is scheduled to go live on 12 October. Designed to digitise border checks by capturing biometric data, the system will eventually cover all non-EU drivers entering the bloc.

While intended to streamline processes and enhance security, the transition will create additional steps for hauliers and could slow traffic on critical corridors such as Dover–Calais if infrastructure proves inadequate.

UK hauliers face further constraints from the 90/180-day driver access rule, raising concerns over flexibility in meeting customer demand. With weeks left to prepare, shippers should ensure that drivers are prepared, documentation and contingency measures are in place.

Staying Ahead of the Changes

The common thread running through these developments is clear: shippers face a rising tide of complexity at the intersection of GB and EU trade. From border checks and customs filings to NI market access, regulatory shifts demand preparation, agility and informed support.

Metro is committed to helping customers navigate this evolving environment – from expert customs guidance and training to cross-border contingency planning and operational resilience.

To discuss how these changes could affect your supply chains, and the practical steps to stay compliant and competitive, please EMAIL our managing director Andy Smith.

UK Bid to Join Pan-Europe Trade Area Blocked

UK Bid to Join Pan-Europe Trade Area Blocked

Jul 22, 2025 | , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The UK government’s attempt to join the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) Convention, a framework that simplifies supply chains and reduces tariffs across Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East has been blocked by the EU.

Established in 2012 and modernised in 2025, the PEM Convention allows manufacturers in member countries to “cumulate” inputs, counting components sourced from any PEM country as local when determining a product’s origin for tariff purposes. 

So, if a Turkish manufacturer made a machine from EU-sourced parts, the item would be considered as “made in Turkey” when exported to France, benefiting from preferential trade agreements. This enables goods like cars, chemicals, and processed foods to move across borders with reduced  paperwork and lower tariffs.

The convention’s 25 members include the EU, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Egypt, Morocco, and Israel. The UK, notably, is one of the few European countries not included.

Joining PEM could ease post-Brexit trade friction, particularly for UK manufacturers relying on complex, multinational supply chains. It would:

– Reduce rules-of-origin paperwork
– Provide greater sourcing flexibility
– Support industries like automotive, chemicals, and food processing

While some experts say the impact would be moderate, others argue it’s a pragmatic step that offers clear benefits without requiring a return to the EU single market or customs union.

Why Is the UK Blocked?
Despite initially signalling openness, the European Commission has withheld support for UK accession, citing concerns that UK-made goods could unfairly qualify for low-tariff access to EU markets.

Technically, incorporating PEM provisions into the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) would require reopening parts of the Brexit deal and EU officials have indicated they want to stick closely to the “common understanding” agreed at the May UK–EU summit, to avoid further complications.

This block has frustrated UK trade bodies, including the British Chambers of Commerce, which see PEM as a practical tool to improve trade flows.

The UK government has said it will continue to review the potential benefits of PEM and engage with the EU and other PEM members. However, with Brussels signalling little appetite to renegotiate TCA terms, short-term progress may be unlikely.

Metro’s customs specialists design tax-efficient supply chains using bonded warehousing, IPR/OPR, duty drawback, and other regimes to protect your cash flow, minimise duty exposure, and keep you fully compliant. EMAIL Managing Director, Andy Smith, to learn more

ICS2 Phase 2: What you need to know and how we can help

ICS2 Phase 2: What you need to know and how we can help

Jan 8, 2025 | , , , , , , ,

On 4th December 2024, Phase 2 of the Import Control System 2 (ICS2) was deployed, requiring maritime and inland waterways house-level filers, including Metro, to directly submit detailed safety and security data to EU customs authorities.

ICS2 is the EU’s advanced customs system designed to enhance supply chain security and facilitate smooth trade across its external borders. By collecting and analysing cargo data in advance, ICS2 allows customs authorities to identify risks early, ensuring efficient processing of low-risk goods while prioritising inspections for high-risk consignments.

Key benefits of ICS2

ICS2 streamlines customs procedures while securing the supply chain by:
Proactively identifying high-risk consignments for early intervention.
Reducing delays and costs through faster and smoother cross-border clearance.
Simplifying data exchange between Economic Operators (EOs) and customs authorities.

Enhanced data requirements
To comply with ICS2, all exporters and logistics providers must provide comprehensive data via the Entry Summary Declaration (ENS), including:

6-digit Harmonised System Code.
Commercial descriptions of goods.
EU-registered EORI numbers.

Complete details of the seller, buyer, and consignee.Prompt submission of this data enables accurate risk assessments, helping to avoid shipment delays.

ENS filing timelines

For maritime transport, ENS submissions must adhere to strict timelines:
1. Two hours before arrival at the first EU port of entry for goods from nearby regions (e.g., Greenland, Morocco, or the Mediterranean) with journeys under 24 hours.
2. Four hours before arrival for bulk cargo in other cases.
3. 24 hours before loading for containerised cargo on longer journeys.

Please note, some carriers may require submissions earlier, such as 24 hours before the estimated time of arrival (ETA) at the port of departure.

Implementation timeline
ICS2 is being deployed in three stages:

1.3rd June 2024: Maritime and inland waterways carriers.
2.4th December 2024: Maritime and inland waterways house-level filers.
3.1st April 2025: Road and rail carriers.

Since 4th December, Metro has been filing directly with EU customs authorities, ensuring compliance and early clearance of shipments. Non-compliance or incomplete ENS submissions can result in shipment delays, stops, and fines.

How we support your compliance

To simplify your compliance with ICS2 Phase 2, we’ve adapted our CuDoS customs brokerage platform to integrate seamlessly with the Shared Trader Interface (STI). This ensures your shipments are cleared early in the process, avoiding costly disruptions.

Our dedicated brokerage team is here to:
Guide you through ICS2 requirements.
Assist with data provision and ENS submissions.
Provide comprehensive support for import and export documentation across the EU.

Don’t let delays or penalties impact your operations. EMAIL Andy Fitchett today to learn how we can help ensure a seamless transition to ICS2 Phase 2 and keep your supply chain moving smoothly.

<strong>New EU border controls threaten cross-channel delays</strong>

<strong>New EU border controls threaten cross-channel delays</strong>

Nov 2, 2022 | , ,

Almost 60% of all UK-EU trade passes through the UK short straits and ensuring their operational stability is key to facilitating and maximising international trade, but EU border controls due to take effect next May threaten to impact their resilience and sustainability.

The European Entry/Exit System (EES) will replace wet stamping of passports and require Britons to register biometrics including facial and fingerprint scans on their first border crossing into the EU, and then be scanned on subsequent crossings.

Britons travelling to the European continent have been warned to expect huge delays at ferry ports and the Channel Tunnel from May 2023, with the launch of the scheme expected to be chaotic.

The technology the EU is implementing to support the EES rollout was designed for airports and railway stations, where passengers approach individually in queues and under French laws, the information must be gathered in the presence of a border official and cannot be subcontracted.

The head of EU exit for the Dover Harbour Board, told MPs last year that there is no such thing as an eGate for a car, and there is no such thing as an eGate process for people travelling as a group. They’re all one-at-a-time processes, which means that at British exit ports, EES would require car passengers and commercial vehicle drivers to exit their vehicles at French border controls to undertake passport checks; in addition to compromising the safety of drivers, it would also delay just-in-time supply chains.

The port of Dover has voiced fears – that are supported by Logistics UK and other freight trade associations – that EES will not work in a ferry port where there could be hundreds of cars waiting to get onto ferries and with up to 10,000 lorries crossing every day, any disruption to processing cars for departure, could lead to prolonged freight delays.

Experts suggest that EES could extend passenger processing times, currently averaging 90 seconds per car by a few minutes, which Imperial College forecasts would trigger 29-mile queues.

The Port of Dover, ferry operators, Logistics UK and the British Ports Association (BPA) are lobbying the government to address the looming threats to traffic fluidity from the EU Entry Exit System (EES) and support new border control infrastructure.

Metro are at the forefront of UK/EU customs brokerage solutions, with our automated CuDoS declaration platform and a dedicated team of customs experts, reacting swiftly to any changes in the UK’s trading relationship with the EU.

To learn how we can simplify and automate customs declarations for your businesses, please EMAIL Elliot Carlile to review the options.

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