From Delta G to Delta I/E: What Changes for Your Customs Declarations

Since October 2025, customs clearance in France has undergone a major transformation. The Delta G system, used by all international trade operators to submit their customs declarations, is gradually giving way to Delta I/E (Import/Export). This new online service, developed by the DGDDI (General Directorate of Customs and Indirect Taxes), fulfills an obligation of the Union Customs Code (UCC): to harmonize the customs IT systems of all member states. For freight forwarders, carriers and industrialists, the switch is underway and the impacts are very real. Here is a status update.

Why Delta G is giving way to Delta I/E

Delta G has been the reference system for customs clearance in France for many years. Built around the Single Administrative Document (SAD), it allowed declarants to submit their import and export operations via a unified interface. But this system, designed at a national level, no longer met the interoperability requirements imposed by the European Union.

The UCC, whose provisions have applied since 2016, requires each member state to migrate to standardized IT platforms. The objective: to allow European customs administrations to communicate via common formats, facilitate cross-border trade and strengthen controls through better-structured data. Delta I/E is France's response to this obligation, divided into two components: Delta I for imports, Delta E for exports, accompanied by the SDS (Export Tracking System).

The differences between Delta G and Delta I/E

The transition is not limited to a change of interface. The format of declarations and the level of detail expected are changing significantly.

End of the SAD and switch to structured data

With Delta G, the declaration was based on the SAD and its 54 boxes. With Delta I/E, this document disappears in favor of structured data sets transmitted in XML format. For imports, the H1 declaration replaces the SAD. For exports, the B1 procedure takes over. These new declarations require approximately 120 information codes, organized by themes (stakeholders, goods, transport, supporting documents).

Another significant change: the SAD grouped declarant and representative in a single box (box 14). Delta I/E distinguishes them in two separate sections. The "exporter" data also becomes mandatory in import declarations, whereas it was previously optional.

A more demanding level of detail for each operation

Moving from 54 boxes to 120 codes has direct consequences on daily work. Each operation requires more granular information about the seller, buyer, final recipient, tariff codes and loading or unloading locations, now identified by the LOCODE system. This requirement for precision, required by the European framework, requires operators to provide more complete and more reliable data in advance.

The Delta I/E rollout schedule in France

The rollout took place in successive stages, with adjustments imposed by field realities.

The import component has been in production since late 2024. The closure of the import declaration filing in Delta G became effective on October 22, 2025. The export component and the SDS went into production on November 4, 2025, but the switch proved more complex than expected. Anomalies in the links between systems, processing errors for certain messages, difficulties in adapting operators: the DGDDI extended the coexistence period with Delta G Export and continues to deploy corrective versions, according to updates published on douane.gouv.fr.

In early February 2026, the switchover rate to Delta IE Export is around 56 to 75% for cargo freight and remains lower for express freight (around 36%). The next corrective version is scheduled for February 24, 2026.

What are the impacts for freight forwarders and industrialists?

Beyond the system, Delta I/E changes the daily practices of customs clearance professionals and their clients.

Enhanced technical expertise among declarants

The volume and precision of data to be entered mechanically increases the processing time for each file, particularly during the ramp-up phase. Our declarants must master new formats, verify more fields and manage technical anomalies that the DGDDI lists in its anomaly log, updated continuously. Ongoing training of teams is an indispensable lever for maintaining operational fluidity.

More precise upstream information transmission

For clients, the transition also requires increased effort. Information transmitted to the freight forwarder must be more complete than before: identity of parties, product codes, supporting documents, loading locations. The quality of data provided upstream directly determines the speed of clearance. An incomplete or imprecise file leads to additional back-and-forth and risks of customs blockages.

Real-time customs tracking, an advance of Delta I/E

The transition does not only bring constraints. It also opens up new management possibilities for operators. Thanks to Delta I, customs status tracking is now done in real time. A new intermediate status, "Control possible", refines visibility on customs controls by distinguishing declarations that may be subject to control from those actually under control or released.

The amount of customs duties is available for each declared item, and all structured data from Delta I can be consulted and exported. We make this development available in Customeo, our digital customs clearance platform: data accessible in the "Declaration" tab, downloadable in Excel and available via API. With complete status traceability and real-time notifications, you maintain control over each step of your customs operations.

How to prepare for the transition to Delta I/E?

Even though the switch is underway, several actions allow you to approach it in the best conditions.

Check the compliance of your EORI number. Delta I/E operates on the basis of the SIREN (and no longer the SIRET alone). The migration to the EORI SIREN will be communicated by the DGDDI during 2026. Audit the quality of the data you transmit to your declarants: precision and completeness upstream is the key to smooth clearance. Train your teams on the new requirements, using the DGDDI's resources and training from organizations such as ODASCE.

Finally, ensure that your customs management tools are compatible with Delta I/E formats. At Derudder, Customeo has been adapted to natively integrate Delta I/E's new features. The platform provides access to more than 150 customs offices in France and Europe, handles all types of operations (IM, EX, T1, T2L) and offers customs monitoring in 7 countries (FR, UK, BE, NL, ES, IT, EE) via an interface available in 5 languages.

The transition from Delta G to Delta I/E is a structural change for all players in international trade in France. More data, more precision, but also more visibility over your customs operations. The switch is underway. Log in to your Customeo account to discover the new features linked to Delta I: real-time tracking, control statuses, export of structured data and duty estimates. Whether you are a shipper, freight forwarder or occasional operator, the platform adapts to your needs to manage your declarations with complete transparency.