SAFETY AND SECURITY REQUIREMENTS – ENS AND EXS DECLARATIONS
Background and upcoming changes
There are 2 types of safety and security declarations: an exit summary (EXS) declaration and an entry summary (ENS) declaration.
The UK has a temporary ENS declaration waiver in place for all EU to GB movements (unless otherwise exempt).
Safety and security declarations for EU imports will not be required before the end of 2023.
Full UK safety and security export procedures are in place.
The EU has had full ENS and EXS declaration requirements in place since 1 January 2021.
Specific procedural details on a member state by member state basis are listed later in the document for:
Entry summary declaration (ENS)
For accompanied roll on roll off (RoRo) freight, the haulier (as the carrier and operator of the active means of transport) is responsible for submitting the ENS declaration – also known as the safety and security declaration – at the first point of entry.
For unaccompanied RoRo freight, the ferry operator (as the carrier and operator of the active means of transport) is responsible for submitting the ENS declaration at the first port of entry. For ports with inventory linking, the ferry operator will complete the manifest. For example, in the Netherlands the manifest must have all the ENS date entries for that ferry, prior to it being allowed to leave the UK. The information will need to be provided before the ship departs the port.
The data required for an ENS declaration includes:
consignor
consignee
a description of the goods
routing (country by country)
conveyance (e.g. ferry or Eurotunnel details)
time of arrival
An EORI number is required to make ENS declarations. This needs to be a:
‘GB’ EORI number for GB safety and security (or ‘XI’ EORI number for Northern Ireland)
valid EU member state EORI number for EU ENS declarations
A third party may lodge a declaration as long as this is done with the knowledge of the carrier and consent. However, it remains the carrier’s responsibility to make sure that:
an entry summary declaration is submitted
declarations are submitted within the legal time limits
The third party must also make sure that the information given by the carrier is accurate.
An ENS is not required for goods covered by an ATA or CPD carnet (Carnet de Passages en Douane) provided the goods are not moved under transport contract.
For GB, the carrier will need to sign up for access to the S&S GB service to lodge ENS declarations. This process can also be completed by a third party with their knowledge and consent.
Find out about the GB ENS process.
Exit summary declaration (EXS)
A carrier (meaning the haulier for accompanied RoRo movements, and ferry operator for unaccompanied) is required to submit any EXS declarations to the customs authority of the country from which the consignment is being exported.
EXS data is normally included in the export declaration (which is a customs declaration). If a customs export declaration has been lodged, there is no need for a separate EXS declartion. The person normally responsible for submitting a combined declaration is the exporter of the goods, or their representative.
A standalone EXS declaration is usually required if:
the goods have remained in temporary storage for more than 14 days
the goods have remained in temporary storage for less than 14 days but the import safety and security declaration details are unknown or where the destination or consignee details change
goods are moved under transit and there is no full export declaration, using either a:
Transit Accompanying Document (TAD)
Transit and Safety and Security Declaration (TSAD)
Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) carnet document
TSADs cannot be used to meet safety and security requirements in GB.
A standalone EXS declaration is not required for any empty pallets, empty containers and empty vehicles moved out of GB, including those moved under a transport contract. An EXS declaration is also not required if the goods are covered by an ATA or CPD carnet.
For combined safety and security, customs export declarations, and for standalone safety and security EXS declarations, the submission can be made on the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system or the Customs Declaration Service (CDS). There is still the option to submit EXS declarations through CSP systems or third-party software providers.
Find out about the GB EXS process.