CDS BIRDS Declarations and Customs Clearance Request completion instructions for inventory imports
These Data Element Completion instructions relate to Customs Declaration Service (CDS) Customs Clearance Requests ((CCR) inventory releases previously referred to as C21s) for import purposes only.
Documents
Details
It does not cover completion instructions for:
- written import customs declaration
- written export customs declarations
- Customs Clearance Requests (CCR) for export purposes
- Final Supplementary Declarations (FSD)
For data element completion guidance for written import and export customs declarations and export CCRs, please refer to the appropriate Declaration Completion Guide.
Last updated
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Multiple page titles and definition changes.
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The field format requirements have been changed at DE 5/23 and the data entry requirements have been amended at DE 4/8.
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The Completion Instructions have been updated throughout the entirety of the document to incorporate the completion instructions for Bulk Import Reduced Data Set. An additional update has been made to include roll on roll off and the Goods Vehicle Movement Service. A definition of Union has included in DE 1/2, please note that this definition will be adopted throughout the collection in due course.
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Guidance has been updated in DE 2/5 with an amended timescale
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First published.
Update history
2025-10-02 12:18
Updates have been made to ‘Recommended Format of DUCR’ in Data Elements 2/1 and 2/4 for Inventory Imports.
2025-05-22 13:41
Description of Goods instructions have been updated at Data Element 6/8 under All Declaration Categories.
2025-05-19 16:12
Data Element headings and some sections of text have been updated to remove obsolete references to the decommissioned CHIEF system.
2024-10-09 10:36
‘Group 2: References of Messages, Document, Certificates and Authorisations’ has been amended at DE 2/2 to remove irrelevant export-related material. No material relevant to Inventory Import has been altered.
2024-09-28 00:15
Additional information has been added in Data Element (DE) 3/15 and 3/16, in the Notes section of DE 4/8, for DE 6/8 and in the Notes section of DE 7/4.
2024-05-09 13:27
Notes referring to document code 955D have been removed from Data Element 4/8.
2024-01-09 11:55
Blank table cells throughout the collection have been filled with em-dashes (—) to meet accessibility standards. Technical content remains unchanged.
2023-12-19 00:15
Amendment has been made to Data Element (DE) completion instructions to distinguish between GB and XI EORI rules following the introduction of XI EORI. Amendments have been made to DE 2/1, DE 2/3, DE 2/6, DE 2/7, DE 3/1, DE 3/15, DE 3/16, 3/18, DE 3/20, DE 3/21, DE 3/39, DE 3/41 and DE 8/3.
2023-06-29 12:58
Correction to EIDR NOP Completion instructions to reflect the single goods item has been made in Group 1: Message Information (including Procedure Codes).
2023-05-10 12:27
Data Element 5/23 of the Bulk Import Reduced Data Set (BIRDS) and Customs clearance request declaration completion instructions for imports has been updated to confirm that name and address details are not permitted. The correct location code should be declared in all cases. References to free text or additional identifier have been removed.
2023-04-13 16:04
Terminology has been changed to reflect the creation of the ‘Department of Business and Trade’, formerly known as the ‘Department of International Trade’. Terminology has also been updated to replace outdated page names and links. Technical content remains unchanged.
2023-02-07 12:28
A guidance amendment to Data Elements DE 1/8, DE 3/20 and DE 3/21 on representation and sub-agents has been made. Completion instructions for these data elements are unchanged.
2023-01-12 00:15
Multiple page titles and definition changes.
2022-10-28 10:59
The field format requirements have been changed at DE 5/23 and the data entry requirements have been amended at DE 4/8.
2022-09-20 09:20
The Completion Instructions have been updated throughout the entirety of the document to incorporate the completion instructions for Bulk Import Reduced Data Set.An additional update has been made to include roll on roll off and the Goods Vehicle Movement Service.A definition of Union has included in DE 1/2, please note that this definition will be adopted throughout the collection in due course.