Descartes Systems Group, a federated global network logistics solutions provider, announced that MOL, a leading multi-modal transport company, has selected Descartes to help manage its container division's European Union (EU) Import Control System (ICS) customs filings.

MOL selected Descartes to help manage import security filings into Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, France, Spain and Italy.

With its Global Filer solution, Descartes is working together with leading customers, like MOL, to help its customers and partners be ready to comply with the EU ICS requirements scheduled to be effective in January 2011. The Descartes Global Filer solution is architected to support the 27 EU and other countries around the world that require import security filings.

As of January 1, 2011, the EU Customs Union Security Filing program is scheduled to go live in all 27 member states of the EU. The EU Customs Union Security Filing program was developed in an effort to address the security and automation of trade shipments for imports and exports in and out of the EU. The EU Customs Union is introducing these customs compliance regulations to standardize and automate its customs filings process. EU member states and the community have come together to form the electronic customs multiannual strategic plan (MASP). The goal of this plan is to provide the vision, objectives, strategic framework and milestones towards a paperless environment for customs and trade.

"MOL is leading the way in ensuring that it is prepared for the January 2011 EU ICS mandate. Descartes is in a unique position to help MOL and our other customers manage customs filings globally via a single solution through our Global Filer solution," said Jonathan Wasserman, Senior Vice President, Global Trade Compliance Solutions at Descartes. 'We are one of the select vendors working to support organizations with these emerging requirements globally and across modes of transport.'

'MOL has sought and found a good partner with a solution designed to help us comply with the new EU regulations. It is important to us at MOL that we offer the best level of service to our customers and we are sure this relationship will help us continue to do this,' says Jochen Veldmann, Executive Director Area of MOL Europe BV.

Descartes' Global Filer and Global Trade Compliance services are a part of Descartes' Global Logistics Network (GLN). The GLN provides multi-party collaborative services that allow customers to automate, exchange and manage shipment processes with their trading partners and regulatory agencies. Through the GLN, Descartes provides a comprehensive suite of services for international logistics operations including: air and ocean shipment bookings, contract management and automated freight audit, shipment status visibility and supplier performance reporting.