Article | 3 Minuten Lesezeit
Import Control System 2 is no longer an upcoming regulatory change. With January 2026 only weeks away, many carriers, logistics service providers, and shippers are now in the final stage of readiness. ICS2 becomes mandatory from 1 January 2026. At this point, the question is no longer whether businesses are aware of the change, but whether data, partners, and processes are genuinely ready for go live. The final weeks of 2025 are about validation, confirmation, and risk reduction.
Article | 4.5 Minuten Lesezeit
The UK Government has confirmed that the £135 customs duty relief for low value imports will be removed by March 2029 at the latest. A public consultation is now underway to shape the new model that will replace it. This change will have significant operational and financial implications for shippers and logistics service providers moving goods into the UK.
Article | 2.5 Minuten Lesezeit
As Gaston Schul celebrates its 180-year anniversary, one thing is clear: customs has never been more central to how businesses operate, compete, and grow. What once revolved around duty calculations and paperwork has transformed into a strategic domain shaped by geopolitics, sustainability, digitalisation, and supply chain resilience. Today, customs is no longer an operational afterthought. It is a boardroom priority.
The European Commission has proposed a new steel trade defence regulation (COM(2025)726 final) to protect the EU market from global overcapacity, particularly from non-market economies such as China. The initiative replaces the current safeguard measure in 2026 and introduces fresh compliance rules for importers, including a Tariff Rate Quota system and new ‘Melt and Pour’ origin requirements.
Article | 6 Minuten Lesezeit
The EU’s 19th sanctions package against Russia marks a new phase in Europe’s economic response to the war in Ukraine. It strengthens existing restrictions on energy, finance and dual-use goods, while expanding measures against crypto assets and third-country intermediaries. For European traders and logistics providers, these developments bring heightened compliance demands and supply-chain complexity. This article outlines the main rules, their business impact, and how Gaston Schul helps businesses stay compliant across Europe.
As global trade regulations tighten and enforcement rises, customs due diligence has become critical for protecting your business. From verifying suppliers to maintaining compliant documentation, it safeguards operations against delays, penalties, and reputational risks – while unlocking efficiencies and building trust with authorities.
Article | 1.5 Minuten Lesezeit
A recent outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in Spain has prompted the UK to introduce immediate import restrictions on certain bovine products. These measures apply to England, Scotland and Wales and follow existing controls already in place for France and Italy due to earlier outbreaks.
In recent years, we’ve seen a sharp rise in sanctions activity, and 2024 has been no exception. Between the evolving Russia sanctions, renewed measures on Iran, and increasingly complex EU and UK regulations, sanctions compliance has become a pressing concern for any business involved in international trade.
European waste regulations have existed since the 1990s, but in 2024 the EU adopted renewed procedures. The revised Waste Shipment Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/1157) entered into force on 20 May 2024. Most provisions will apply from 21 May 2026, while export rules will take effect from 21 May 2027. A specific ban on exporting plastic waste to non-OECD countries will apply from 21 November 2026. The main purpose of the new framework is to strengthen public health protection and foster a circular economy. But what does this mean in practice for companies?
