Effective from March 1, 2023, the European Union (EU), Switzerland and Norway have implemented a new security and safety programme under EU’s Import Control System 2 (ICS2) requiring all inbound and transit air mails containing goods to undergo preliminary pre-departure customs assessment at the origin of posting.
Senders need to submit electronic customs declaration for mail items containing goods destined to or transited via the EU, Switzerland and Norway.
Senders are required to provide a local mobile phone number or email address that can receive SMS messages or emails issued by Hongkong Post on the request by destinations or relevant customs authorities related to customs clearance of the mail items. Senders shall check your SMS messages or emails for 1 to 2 days upon posting and take follow up action if required. Hongkong Post will not embed hyperlinks in the related SMS messages or emails requesting for any personal information. Members of the public could contact Hongkong Post enquiry hotline 2921 2222 direct if they have any doubts on the SMS messages or emails received.
The Import Control System 2 (ICS2) is the EU’s IT system created to collect data about all goods entering the EU prior to their arrival. From 1 March 2023, the overseas customs authorities will conduct preliminary pre-departure customs assessment at the origin of posting prior to the departure of all inbound and transit air mails containing goods destined to/transited via EU, Switzerland and Norway.
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden
Norway, Switzerland
Please click here to view the list of destinations to / transited via the above countries.
The sender needs to provide the following information while making electronic customs declaration:
All categories of mail containing goods which do not come with accurate electronic customs information will be subject to delay during customs clearance, may not be processed or may be returned. Senders should provide the return address and a local mobile phone number that can receive SMS. Items returned without sender’s information will be destroyed with no postage refund.
The Harmonized System code (HS code) is the standard number of various goods. Sender can search the standard name and HS code of the goods through the website of Census and Statistics Department (https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/index_hs_code.html) or online posting platforms. Senders shall ensure that the HS Code provided matches with the declared content.
To state a good product description for customs declaration, the following information should be considered:
| Product description | HS code of item (minimum 6-digit) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Poor ☒ | Good ☑ | |
| Food | Cakes Barbecue sauce |
190590 210390 |
| Parts | Metal Working Machinery Automobile Brakes |
820291 870830 |
| Gifts | Dolls Remote Control cars |
950300 950300 |
| Accessories | Chargers for tablets Plastic cases for tablets |
850440 420231 |
| Clothes | Men's Shirts Lingerie |
610620 610892 |
| Electronics | Computers Mobile Phones |
847130 851712 |
Senders are required to provide a local mobile phone number that can receive SMS, so that if necessary they can receive messages issued by Hongkong Post on the requests by overseas customs authorities related to customs clearance of the mail items and take follow up actions. Senders are reminded that Hongkong Post will not embed hyperlinks in the related SMS requesting for any personal information. Members of the public could contact Hongkong Post enquiry hotline 2921 2222 direct if they have any doubts on the SMS received.
If a mail item fails the pre-departure customs assessment at the origin of posting, a SMS message with passcode will be issued by Hongkong Post requesting the sender to collect the returned items and postage refund at the designated post office.
Please click the topics to see how we can help.
Please click here to provide supplementary customs information for your mail item.