Guidance

Data Element 2/3 Documents and Other Reference Codes (National) of the Customs Declaration Service (CDS)

Find a list of codes for the relevant document codes, document status codes and details to be declared (for example, licences and certificates) in Data Element 2/3 (Appendix 5A).

Known error workarounds may apply to this area of the instructions.

This appendix provides details of the relevant document codes, document status codes and details to be declared (for example, licences and certificates) in Data Element (DE) 2/3 of the customs declaration.

This includes document codes for all types of authorisations required in order to declare the goods to the customs procedure concerned (for example, 1207 to be declared when the Agents hold specific authority to use an importer’s deferment account).

The National codes and details to be declared are specified below.

The Union codes and details to be declared are specified in Table 1, see Appendix 5A: DE 2/3: Documents and Other Reference Code (Union).

Where both Union and National document codes are being declared, enter any Union codes first.

Where a document code permits the use of status codes UA, UE, UP, US, XX or XW, and where the document normally requires a reference number, and where the document is not held (waiver is claimed) a statement supporting the use of those status codes must be provided. The statement must be provided in both the Second Component (Document Identifier) and in the fourth component: (Document Reason) (an..35) of DE 2/3.

See Appendix 5B: DE 2/3 document status codes for status code definitions.

Unless specifically instructed otherwise in column 4 of the individual document code, a document identifier reference number is not required.

Use of status code XX or XW is a legal declaration that the goods are exempted from the documentary controls.

Sufficient evidence must be held in records to demonstrate eligibility for the waiver or exemption which must be produced on demand.

Appendix 5A: DE 2/3: National Document Codes

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Updates to this page

Published 1 August 2018
Last updated 317 OctoberNovember 2024 + show all updates
  1. Appendix 5A National document code 9107 updated to remove the options of using document status codes XA, XF, XU, XW and XX. This results in the document ID field becoming mandatory instead of conditional and the document reason is no longer applicable instead of being conditional. The Customs Declaration Service will continue to accept status codes XA, XF, XU, XW and XX with 9107 for a limited period of time to enable traders to update their software. Waiver document code Y903 is available for use in any circumstances which would have previously used XA, XF, XU, XW or XX with 9107.

  2. Document codes 9065 and 9066 have been amended. Please refer to the conditions attached to the commodity code in the UK Integrated Online Tariff and the Northern Ireland Online Tariff for associated document codes.

  3. Document code Y229 has been amended to be used for sanctions measures on Northern Ireland export declarations in addition to the existing use for imports of tier priced medicines. HMRC have requested the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) amend the tier priced medicines tariff measure to use a new document code, but Y229 will need to be used until this has been implemented. A further update will be issued once a new document code is available in the tariff measures for the tier priced medicines.

  4. Document codes 9Y11 and 9Y12 have been added in preparation for upcoming tariff changes.

  5. Document code Y080 has been amended to 'Both' as the Tariff shows that this code should be used for both import and export. Document code 9080 has been amended to remove details of code Y080. Document code 9108 has been deleted and EU export licences for cultural goods should be declared against document code E012 instead.

  6. Document codes 9033, 9034 and 9035 have been deleted. Document code 9036 has been amended to align with legislative changes which now prohibit the import of pork or pork products from the EU unless they have been commercially packed and bear an appropriate EU identification mark. Non-commercial imports of pork or pork products which are commercially packed and suitably stamped, are also prohibited if they exceed a total of 2kgs.

  7. Document code 9011 has been updated to amend the Description and Usage of Code.

  8. Document code 9039 has been updated to reflect a change in the conditions on sanctions applicable to Russian origin diamonds. From 1 September 2024, the size limit on the diamonds sanctions is changed and applies to diamonds which are 0.5 carats or more. Document codes 9010, 9023, 9026, 9031 and 9032 have been amended to update references from DIT to DBT.

  9. Document codes 9Y01, 9Y02 and 9Y03 have been added.

  10. Document code 9112 has been updated to amend 'Details to be entered on the declaration'.

  11. Document code 1MIB has been added.

  12. Document codes 9067, 9250, 9251, 9252, 9253, 9254, 9255, 9256, 9257, 9258 and 9259 have been deleted. These document codes had been intended to be used for plant health tariff measures. They were never added to the tariff measures and the introduction of document 901Y earlier this year means that they are no longer required. Document codes 9501, Y067, Y250, Y251, Y253, Y254, Y255, Y256, Y257, Y258, Y259 and Y501 have also been replaced by 901Y but will be retained temporarily in case they are required for supplementary declarations.

  13. Document code 955D has been removed.

  14. Document code 9082 has been added in advance of an upcoming change to tariff measures.

  15. Document code 9083 has been added in advance of an update to tariff measures for bananas.

  16. Codes 9065 & 9066 have been updated with reference to associated document codes for fluorinated gas measures.

  17. Document Code 901Y has been amended to reflect that pre-notification can no longer be made using PEACH.

  18. Amendments have been made for codes 1207, 1421, 1434, 185C, 2CVF, 426C, 9001, 9004, 9005, 9011, 9102, 9103, 9107, 9108, 9111-6, 9118-21, 920C, 941C, 9ESA and 1UKI.

  19. Document codes 9039, 9042 and 9048 have been added.

  20. The Appendix 5A National entry for 901Y has been updated to include a reference to further guidance available within the main Import Declaration Completion Instructions for DE 2/3.

  21. Document codes 9065 and 9066 have been added in advance of tariff measure changes on fluorinated gases. Document code 901Y has also been added.

  22. Document code 9106 has been updated to remove reference to document code Y990 which is no longer in use. Document codes 9578, 955D and 9WKS have been updated to show that a document reason is no longer mandated when using one of these document codes and to make it clear that the document ID field must be completed. Customs Declaration Service had been incorrectly mandating both a document ID and a document reason with these document codes. Declarations will still be accepted if the document reason field is completed in addition to the document ID.

  23. Document codes 911Y and 913Y have been added in advance of an upcoming amendment to the tariff measures. These codes can be declared immediately, but they will not have the functionality to claim the waiver until the tariff measures have been updated. Many commodity codes which currently have the Home Office licence measure, will have the measure removed and will therefore not require 911Y or 913Y. A number of commodity codes with the Home Office licence measures are never entitled to a waiver and will therefore also not have the option for 911Y or 913Y.

  24. Document code 991Y has been updated following revised guidance from Defra that the waiver is applicable to imports of bark free wood of Belgian origin. Document code 9068 has also been added for claiming a waiver from Iranian sanctions.

  25. Document code 9063 has been added to Appendix 5A.

  26. Document code 9062 has been added to Appendix 5A.

  27. Document code 9WKS updated to show that document status AC is required when declaring 9WKS. The “Document ID” and “Document Reason” fields must both be completed when declaring 9WKS.

  28. Document code 9043 added to Appendix 5A. The tariff measures for commodity code 2834298000 will be updated soon to permit use of document code 9043 to declare that the goods being imported are not ammonium nitrate. In the meantime, if importing goods other than ammonium nitrate, in a quantity greater than 500kgs and using commodity code 2834298000, complete DE 2/3 with document code 9046, document ID GBHSENOTAMMONIUMNITRATE and Document status code JP (Document status code JP in this case would refer to the trader having evidence that the goods are something other than ammonium nitrate). For imports under commodity code 2834298000 with a net mass of up to 500kgs it is not necessary to declare either 9043 or 9046.

  29. Document code 9047 has been added for claiming an exemption from Additional Duties on imports from Russia or Belarus, of titanium alloy tubes & pipes which do not fall within the specification of the sanctions measure. The Additional Duty is only applicable to Titanium alloy tubes and pipes with alloy identifications Ti-A13 - 2.5 V, Ti-6AI - 4V, Grade 1-4, 9, of a kind used in aerospace applications, classified to commodity code 8108906090 and originating in either Russia or Belarus. The UK Integrated Online Tariff will be updated shortly to apply the exemption when document code 9074 is declared but in the meantime a manual calculation and override will be required to claim the exemption from the Additional Duty on qualifying consignments.

  30. Document code 9253 updated to show that a document status code is not required when using this document code.

  31. Document codes 9046 and 9260 have been added. The tariff measures currently covered by document code 9103 span separate controls on the import of ammonium nitrate. The government departments which have ownership of these measures have requested that they be separated. The new document code 9046 will cover the HSE Certificate of Exemption and will be removed from document code 9103, which will continue to be used for declaring a Detonation Resistance Test Certificate, once the tariff measures have been updated. In the meantime, the HSE Certificate of Exemption can still be declared using document code 9103.

  32. 5A National codes for 1ATR, 1AOR and 1AVR descriptions have been updated.

  33. Document code 9045 added. This document code can be used to override additional duty charges on qualifying consignments of urea from Russia or Belarus. The UK Integrated Online Tariff will be updated to apply the override automatically but in the meantime it will be necessary to manually calculate the charges. Refer to Manual Duty Calculation Guidance contained in Declaration Completion Instructions for Imports, DE 2/2. Errors in the description and details for code 1BRD have also been corrected: 'IBIRDS' has been corrected to 'BIRDS' and ‘inward processing authorisation is held' has been corrected to 'BIRDS authorisation is held'.

  34. The description of document code 9001 has been amended to reflect that it is used in relation to more than one preference agreement. The declaration of preferential origin must comply with the terms of the preferential agreement under which the preference is being claimed.

  35. National document codes 9067, 9071, 9080, 9229, 9250, 9251, 9252, 9253, 9254, 9255, 9256, 9257, 9258, 9259 and 9501 have been added. These document codes are not yet in use but are being published in preparation for the replacement of existing document codes Y067, Y071, Y080, Y229, Y250, Y251, Y252, Y253, Y254, Y255, Y256, Y257, Y258, Y259 and Y501. A dual running period of at least one month has been agreed which will start once the new codes are added to the tariff measures in the UK Integrated Online Tariff. The document status code list has been corrected for document codes 920C, 9300, 941C, 955D, 9578, 999L, 9AID, 9AIE, 9AIV, 9CLM, 9CPD, 9ESA, 9ING, 9RCP, 9SDC, 9WKS, Y067, Y071, Y080, Y229, Y250, Y251, Y252, Y253, Y254, Y255, Y256, Y257, Y258, Y259, Y501 and Y999. This information had become corrupted in a previous update and is now being corrected. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

  36. Columns C and D have been updated for document code 9020 to provide additional clarity on the types of items which are exempt from the firearms import licensing controls. Document code 9044 has been added to enable private importers to use a Firearms Certificate or Shotgun Certificate in lieu of an import licence.

  37. Description of document code 999L updated to cover the extended deadline for use of the waiver.

  38. Document codes 1ATR, 991Y, 992Y, 993Y and 994Y added to the list of national document codes. Codes 991Y, 992Y, 993Y and 994Y are being published in advance of an update to tariff measures in the UK Integrated Online Tariff. They can be declared now but the associated functionality will not apply until the tariff measures have been updated.

  39. National Document codes 912Y and 920Y have been added. Document code 9120 has been updated.

  40. The use of punctuation and terminology has been standardised for status codes.

  41. The use of quotation marks has been standardised. No technical content has changed.

  42. Document code 9037 has been added. Document codes 9028, 9029 and 9030 have also been amended to covering both imports and exports. Note also that the ivory measures against commodity codes have been separated from the CITES measures. Corrections have also been made throughout the list to standardise the use of single quotation marks.

  43. Notes on document codes 9005, 9101, 9102 & 9115 updated to distinguish between when a Declaration Unique Consignment Reference (DUCR) is required for licence or Automatic Licence Verification System (ALVS) reconciliation and when it is just required for tracing in trader’s records.

  44. Document codes 9040 and 9041 added to support delivery of the Australia and New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. Import quota claims will need to be supported by export quota licences issued by the appropriate authorities in Australia or New Zealand.

  45. Document codes 1ATR, 1AOR and 1AVR have been added to Appendix 5A National Document Codes. The corresponding codes for DE 3/39 are not yet operational and will not be published until they are functional on the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) (delivery date not currently known). In the meantime the Advanced Tariff/Origin/Valuation Ruling reference just needs to be declared against the appropriate code in DE 2/3.

  46. Document code 9038 has been added to the list of national document codes.

  47. Document code 9022 has been updated to show that it can be used for exports as well as imports.

  48. Completion requirements for 955D and 9578 have been updated to reflect the requirements shown in columns F and G. We are aware that some document codes have both the Document ID and Document Reason shown as being mandatory. We will aim to correct this at some point in the future but for now, both will have to be completed. Code 9010 has also been amended to reflect the newly named Department for Business and Trade, formerly known as the Department of International Trade.

  49. Document code 9011 has been updated to remove the reference date and facilitate use of the document code for licences issued under separate measures.

  50. New columns have been added for Document ID and Document Reason to show if completion is mandatory, conditional or not applicable. A small number of document codes will incorrectly mandate Document ID and Document Reason are always both declared. This will be corrected on a future CDS release but must be complied with in the meantime.

  51. National document codes Y067, Y071, Y080, Y229, Y250, Y251, Y253, Y254, Y255, Y256, Y257, Y258, Y259 and Y501 have been added to the list of permitted document codes. These are not in the correct format for national additional codes, so will only be used temporarily. It is planned to replace these with codes in the correct format later in 2023. It is planned to have a period of dual running to facilitate the migration from the temporary codes to the final codes.

  52. Completion instructions for 955D and 9578 have updated to reflect that a declaration will not be rejected if the document reason is completed. This does not change the requirement to declare a document ID when using either of these document codes.

  53. Document code 110C has been added to the list of national document codes.

  54. Document code 9023 has been updated to show that it is not currently in use. We are currently building functionality to enable document code 9023 to be used as an electronic licence. Once this functionality is available the new document code will be activated. In the meantime, continue to use document code 9100 instead.

  55. Codes 9027 and 9031 have been added. A correction has also been made for 9019.

  56. The description of code 9035 has been amended.

  57. The definition of code 9035 has been amended in Appendix 5A: DE 2/3: National Document Codes.

  58. This guidance has been updated to reflect amended instructions at codes 9005, 9100, 9101, 9102, and 9115.

  59. The ‘Details to be entered on the Declaration’ for code 9022 have been amended.

  60. Document code 9018 has been added to Appendix 5A for claiming exemption from additional duties which were imposed on goods exported from Russia and, or Belarus after 20 July 2022. Declarants using this document code must have evidence to prove that the goods had been exported from Russia and, or Belarus before 20 July 2022.

  61. Document code 9UKR has been removed, as it is no longer in use.

  62. Document codes 9019, 9020, 9023, 9026, 9028, 9029, 9030 & 9032 have been added to the list of National Document Codes.

  63. Document codes 9022, 9033, 9034, 9035 and 9036 have been added to Appendix 5A: DE 2/3: National Document Codes.

  64. Document Code 9022 has been added.

  65. We have updated 9WKS in 'Appendix 5A: DE 2/3: National Document Codes' 9WKS to include an example of using valuation method 4 without SIV or SPV. 1BRD has also been added.

  66. National document codes 9014, 9017, 9024, 9025 and Y229 have been added to Appendix 5A.

  67. Document codes 9015 and 9016 have been added to the list of National Document Codes. Document status codes for 9011 have been amended to enable this document to be declared as an electronic licence.

  68. The appendix has been updated with a new national document code Y999.

  69. The appendix has been updated with a new national document code 9UKR, introduced to cover alternative proof of origin for goods from Ukraine.

  70. National document codes 9011, 9012 and 9013 have been added to cover UK sanctions against Russia.

  71. New codes 9009 and 9010 have been added to facilitate the operation of sanctions imposed against Russia and Belarus.

  72. Document code 9008 has been added to Appendix 5A: DE 2/3: National Document Codes for use from 11:59pm on 24 March 2022. The document code can be used to claim an exemption from additional duties imposed on imports from Russia and Belarus which were shipped before 11:59pm on 24 March 2022.

  73. The list has been updated at document codes 9006 and 9007.

  74. A new version of the appendix has been uploaded, with updated descriptions at 9005, 9100, 9101, 9102, 9104, 9105, 9106 and new 999L code added.

  75. This page has been updated to change code 180C to 108C.

  76. This page has been updated regarding document codes permitting the use of status codes UA, UE, UP, US. Additionally, ‘Details to be entered’ advice has been updated for 955D and 9578.

  77. This page has been updated to reflect changes to National Document Codes, specifically 180C and 9CPD.

  78. First published.

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