Starting in April 2025, digital customs registration will be mandatory for all transport moving goods into Norway. At that time, the “direct transport” scheme will be eliminated and replaced with new digital reporting and information requirements, under which all goods arriving in Norway will need to clear customs before they are unloaded. Digitoll—Norway’s digital customs reporting system designed to streamline the process of importing goods into the country—is already in use at all Norwegian air, road, sea and rail transport border crossings and it allows companies to submit the required information electronically before goods cross the border.
Currently, the direct transport scheme allows goods to be transported directly to the consignee and declared within 10 days. With Digitoll, all information reporting obligations regarding the transport of goods across borders must be fulfilled electronically either before or at the latest when the goods arrive at the border. Digitoll already contributes to more efficient border crossings where it has been implemented and, as from April 2025, it will be the standard rule. Transport may cross the border without stopping if all customs requirements are approved in advance. Suppliers of goods will need to prepare the necessary information for their logistics partners before transportation begins.
To increase safety and security, the EU is expanding its requirements for goods to enter the internal market from third countries, which will affect how goods are declared to the customs authorities. All goods from third countries must be accompanied by an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) that is filed electronically. The ENS is the declaration presented at the first customs office of entry for goods in the EU customs territory and is used by customs authorities to conduct risk analyses of the goods before they enter the EU. A third country for these purposes is any country outside the EU customs security zone, a zone that comprises the customs territories of the EU member states, Norway and Switzerland, but excludes Northern Ireland.
All goods brought into the EU customs territory, regardless of their destination, must have an ENS. Cargo originating in an EU member state but leaving EU territory and then re-entering also must be covered by an ENS.
Through the EU's ICS2 (Import Control System Release 2) security system, Norwegian Customs receives and assesses information about goods entering the security zone. All countries within the zone must be connected to ICS2. The reporting requirement applies to all modes of transport: road, air, sea and rail, although not all have been implemented simultaneously. The system will be rolled out in three phases.
Anyone handling and transporting goods, including express and postal shipments, typically as air cargo from third countries (outside the EU), will be affected by ICS2.
As from June 2024, Norwegian Customs is ready to receive and process advance information. Starting in December, all sea transporters can start submitting advance information, with the final deadline in April 2025. By April 2025, all freight forwarders and handling agents must submit advance information, and for railway transporters, the deadline is September 2025.
The Digitoll scheme offers significant benefits for businesses importing goods into the EU in that the customs process will be automated and the business will be relieved of customs inspections, thus allowing goods to be released automatically from customs at the border.
Affected businesses should begin to prepare for the discontinuation of the existing system and the entry into force of the new rules. For example, it may be necessary to adapt internal systems and processes, and make sure that all needed information for the ENS is accurate and available so that they will be well prepared to comply with the new ENS reporting requirements.
Richard Haave Hanssen
Sven Cato Huseby
BDO in Norway
Currently, the direct transport scheme allows goods to be transported directly to the consignee and declared within 10 days. With Digitoll, all information reporting obligations regarding the transport of goods across borders must be fulfilled electronically either before or at the latest when the goods arrive at the border. Digitoll already contributes to more efficient border crossings where it has been implemented and, as from April 2025, it will be the standard rule. Transport may cross the border without stopping if all customs requirements are approved in advance. Suppliers of goods will need to prepare the necessary information for their logistics partners before transportation begins.
Digitoll for goods from third countries
To increase safety and security, the EU is expanding its requirements for goods to enter the internal market from third countries, which will affect how goods are declared to the customs authorities. All goods from third countries must be accompanied by an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) that is filed electronically. The ENS is the declaration presented at the first customs office of entry for goods in the EU customs territory and is used by customs authorities to conduct risk analyses of the goods before they enter the EU. A third country for these purposes is any country outside the EU customs security zone, a zone that comprises the customs territories of the EU member states, Norway and Switzerland, but excludes Northern Ireland.All goods brought into the EU customs territory, regardless of their destination, must have an ENS. Cargo originating in an EU member state but leaving EU territory and then re-entering also must be covered by an ENS.
Through the EU's ICS2 (Import Control System Release 2) security system, Norwegian Customs receives and assesses information about goods entering the security zone. All countries within the zone must be connected to ICS2. The reporting requirement applies to all modes of transport: road, air, sea and rail, although not all have been implemented simultaneously. The system will be rolled out in three phases.
Anyone handling and transporting goods, including express and postal shipments, typically as air cargo from third countries (outside the EU), will be affected by ICS2.
As from June 2024, Norwegian Customs is ready to receive and process advance information. Starting in December, all sea transporters can start submitting advance information, with the final deadline in April 2025. By April 2025, all freight forwarders and handling agents must submit advance information, and for railway transporters, the deadline is September 2025.
Comments
The Digitoll scheme offers significant benefits for businesses importing goods into the EU in that the customs process will be automated and the business will be relieved of customs inspections, thus allowing goods to be released automatically from customs at the border.Affected businesses should begin to prepare for the discontinuation of the existing system and the entry into force of the new rules. For example, it may be necessary to adapt internal systems and processes, and make sure that all needed information for the ENS is accurate and available so that they will be well prepared to comply with the new ENS reporting requirements.
Richard Haave Hanssen
Sven Cato Huseby
BDO in Norway