In international logistics, the word "manifest" comes up almost every day — yet the "electronic manifest" system you must file differs by country. China Customs has CCAM, the US has AMS, Canada has ACI, the EU has ICS2, Japan has AFR, and the Middle East has its own rules. This article turns the major countries' advance-manifest requirements into a quick-reference table, so front-line operators step on fewer rakes and miss no deadlines.
China Customs requires advance declaration and risk pre-control for import/export cargo, to improve supply-chain traceability, speed up customs clearance, and safeguard trade security. Key data includes: detailed shipper/consignee enterprise information (e.g., unified social credit code), accurate cargo descriptions, piece/weight/volume, and HS commodity codes. Timing: for sea export, containerized cargo must transmit the pre-manifest data at least 24 hours before loading; for air export, the pre-manifest is transmitted before cargo declaration formalities.
Core requirement: all cargo bound for the US (sea/air) must submit complete manifest data at least 24 hours before loading/boarding. The system is directly tied to US HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) requirements. From 2025, the US tightened duty-free treatment for low-value goods, demanding more precise HS classification.
Similar to US AMS: sea cargo manifest data is submitted 24 hours before loading, air cargo 4 hours before aircraft departure. Think of it as the Canadian version of the US AMS.
This is the EU's security-filing system for all inbound cargo. It requires, in phases, an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) for all goods entering the EU (including air, sea, rail, and road) before departure. Data must be highly accurate; EU customs perform a security risk assessment before the goods depart, and goods that have not been risk-assessed cannot be loaded.
ICS2 is implemented in 3 phases: Phase 1 began March 15, 2021, mainly for air express pre-load and postal air pre-load cargo; Phase 2, from March 1, 2023, covers all air carriers, freight forwarders, express carriers, and postal operators; Phase 3, from April 1, 2025, extends to cargo moving by sea, road, and rail, and in some cases even EU-based final consignees must submit entry electronic declaration data via ICS2.
Simply put, the ENS is the "homework" submitted to the ICS2 system, and ICS2 is the "platform" that receives and grades that homework.
Carriers must submit manifest data 24 hours before the vessel leaves a foreign port bound for Japan.
Rules differ by country, but the core is always "file in advance, accurate data." The main countries are summarized below:
① UAE MPCI (Maritime Pre-Load Cargo Information): similar to US AMS and EU ENS, applicable to import, transshipment, and FROB container cargo. Both carriers (MBL) and forwarders (HBL) must file and match, providing bill-of-lading number, HS code, container/seal number, shipper/consignee/notify details, and MPCI Party ID (a unique identifier issued by NAIC). Timing: carrier without split bills 24h before loading, with split bills 6h before; forwarder final-layer split bill 24h before loading, intermediate layer 6h before.
② Saudi Arabia Fasah platform: sea cargo must be declared via Fasah; late or incorrect filing may cause cargo hold, fines (up to 5% of cargo value), or clearance delays. Requires HS code (6–10 digits), valid 15-digit TIN tax number, cargo description (in English, specific), shipper/consignee details, container/seal numbers, etc. Declare at least 24 hours before arrival at a Saudi port; submit within 24 hours after loading is recommended.
③ Qatar: the bill's POD (port of discharge) must read "Hamad port, Qatar", and FND (final destination) must read "Hamad port, Al Wakra, Qatar"; destination customs do not accept vehicles older than 5 years.
④ Oman: name, address, city, country, and contact of both consignee and notify party must be provided and shown on the bill of lading.
⑤ Jordan: all cargo to Jordan must show a 4-digit HS Code in the cargo description; mixed cargo must be sent with cargo info split by HS code.
⑥ Israel: company name, address, city, country, and VAT or ID number of shipper, consignee, and notify must be provided and shown on the bill; all cargo to Israel and transshipment requires a 6-digit HS Code; the consignee or notify must be an Israeli local company.
⑦ Bahrain: Bahraini consignee company name, address, city, country, and phone must be provided and shown on the bill.
⑧ Kuwait: the bill's consignee and notify must show a correct contact phone; the same consignee may import only one vehicle within two years, and the vehicle must be under 5 years old.
⑨ Egypt ACI (Advance Cargo Information): all cargo imported to SOKHNA must pre-declare cargo information and provide an ACI, shown on both the bill and the manifest, otherwise the cargo may be returned. The ACI number must appear in the bill and manifest, with pre-declaration completed before loading.
No matter which country's system, the pattern is identical: file in advance, keep data accurate, and watch the deadlines. Sorting out manifest requirements and pushing them upstream to the booking stage is the easiest way to avoid rolled cargo, delays, and fines.
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