Data Element 2/3: Documents and Other Reference Codes (Union) of the Customs Declaration Service
Find the relevant document codes, document status codes and details to be declared such as licences and certificates (Appendix 5A).
Documents
Details
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 to declare the goods to the customs procedure concerned (for example, C512 to be declared when the Simplified Declaration Procedure is being used).
This guidance refers to Union codes and details. If you want to declare National codes and details, see Appendix 5A: DE 2/3 Document and Other Reference Codes (National).
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.
Enough evidence must be held in records to show eligibility for the waiver or exemption which must be produced on demand.
Updates to this page
Published 1 August 2018Last updated 20 December 2024 + show all updates
-
Document code Y166 has been added to Appendix 5A in preparation for changes to Northern Ireland tariff measures which will apply from 1 January 2025 and will impact on the importation of certain pharmaceutical products into Northern Ireland. Document Code Y988 has been removed.
-
The completion requirements for document code Y123 have been updated in preparation for the validation of EU fluorinated gas registrations on Northern Ireland declarations which is due to start in June 2025. The Customs Declaration Service will initially continue to accept declarations with only the document reason completed but you should start completing the document ID field as well to reduce the impact when the Customs Declaration Service switches from mandating a document reason to mandating a document ID. A further update will be issued when this change is made. Document code Y100 has been amended to mandate completion of the document reason instead of the document ID and remove the requirement for a document status code. Tariff measures will be amended from 1 January 2025 to mandate declaration of Y100 in addition to L001 when claiming a quota controlled by an Rural Payments Agency (RPA) licence. The licence ID must be declared against L001 and not against Y100.
-
Document codes Y164 and Y698 have been added to Appendix 5A.
-
Appendix 5A Union document code E012 updated to remove the options of using document status codes XB, XF, 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. CDS will continue to accept status codes XB, XF, XW and XX with E012 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 XB, XF, XW or XX with E012. Y791 has had an update to the legal references. Y125 & Y950 have had spelling errors corrected. Y955 has been updated to be only used on import declarations, and the description and completion requirements amended.
-
Document codes Y699 and Y897 have been added. Document code Y709 has been amended.
-
Document code A022 has been updated to align with use in both GB and Northern Ireland. Document status codes XB, XF, XW and XX are no longer permitted with document code A022, which means that a document ID will always be required when declaring A022, and the document reason is no longer required. Imports using basmati specific commodity codes always require declaration of document code A022 and the tariff measures will be updated shortly to block current gaps. Document code Y951 has been amended for use in Northern Ireland. Document codes C045, C057, C079, C082, Y053, Y054, Y120, Y121, Y123, Y124, Y125, Y152, Y154, Y160, Y162, Y163, Y926, Y950, Y951, Y955, Y956, Y972 and Y986 have also 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.
-
Document codes Y227, Y228, Y230, Y231 and Y232 have been added for use on Northern Ireland export declarations. 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.
-
Document codes C045, Y123 and Y791 have been amended to reflect changes in their use for import, export or both.
-
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 C100 which was removed in error, has been added back into Appendix 5A. Document code Y903 has been amended to make it clear that for exports from Northern Ireland, the UK and EU export measures need to be considered separately. Document code Y870 has been amended to align with changes made by the EU. Document code L154 has been added.
-
Code C100 is no longer valid and has been removed.
-
Document code Y920 has been updated to remove reference to ‘Decision 1764/15’ to reflect the wider use of the document code.
-
Document code Y705 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 Y170, Y171, Y175, Y176 and Y177 have been added to Appendix 5A for use on Northern Ireland declarations.
-
Document codes 9Y01 and 9Y02 have been removed.
-
Document codes D005, D008, D017, D020, D021, D022, D023 & D024 have been updated. Document codes 9Y01 and 9Y02 have been added for claiming exemption from the prohibition introduced under the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act 2024.
-
The document reason field for codes Y714 and Y717 have been amended to M.
-
Document code Y748 has been added and Y796 has been amended to correct description and usage of code.
-
New EU document codes L149, L150, L151, L152, L153, X844, X845, X847, X848, X849, X850, X851, X854, X855, X856, X857, X858, Y718, Y719, Y720, Y721, Y722, Y723, Y724, Y725, Y726, Y727, Y728, Y729, Y730, Y731, Y732, Y733, Y734, Y735, Y736, Y737, Y738, Y739, Y740, Y743, Y744, Y745, Y746 & Y747 have been added to align with an amendment to Regulation (EU) No 765/2006 made under Regulation (EU) No 2024/1865. New EU document code Y879 has been added to align with an amendment to Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 made under Regulation (EU) No 2024/1745. The ‘Description and Usage of Code’ and ‘Details to be entered on the declaration’ have been amended for Document Code Y853.
-
Codes C101, L148, X843, X852, X853, Y706, Y707, Y708, Y709, Y710, Y711, Y712, Y713, Y714, Y715, Y716, Y741, and Y742 have been added. X841 has been amended.
-
Document codes U003, U031, U052, U058, U072, U073, U077, U095, U096, U097, U100 and U500 have been deleted as these are no longer acceptable preference document codes.
-
Document code Y155 has been amended to reflect changes made by the EU to the description and usage.
-
Document codes C550 and C551 have been added.
-
Document code C053 has been added to Appendix 5A.
-
Document code C689 has been amended to reflect the need for a separate C689. Document code C690 has been updated to remove references to EU legislation to reflect the split between UK legislation applicable in GB and EU legislation applicable in Northern Ireland. The use of document status code XW with document code C690 is also terminated. As per Tariff Stop Press Notice 23 May 2024, consignments claiming an exemption from the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) controls should use document code Y057 instead of C690. Customs Declaration Service will temporarily continue to permit C690 with status code XW to give declarants time to switch to using Y057. The removal of status code XW means that a document ID becomes mandatory with C690 and a document reason is not required. A further notice will be issued in advance of Customs Declaration Service blocking use of status code XW with C690. Y057 has been updated to remove reference to an EU decision. Y070 has been updated to reflect that it will only be applicable in Northern Ireland and in most instances Y057 will also be required when using Y070.
-
Document codes Y121 and Y163 have been updated as they now require both the document ID and document reason fields need to be completed.
-
Document codes D023 and D024 have been added and a reference to legislation has been updated for document code U119.
-
Document codes N002 and N851 have been amended to reflect that Procedure for Electronic Application for Certificates from the Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate (PEACH) is no longer available for new consignments and should now only be used for Supplementary Declarations relating to consignments which used PEACH at the time of import. Although Declaration Unique Consignment Reference (DUCR) matching is no longer required, a DUCR (Previous Document Type DCR) is still required in Data Element (DE) 2/1 at header level and should contain a code which enables the consignment to be traced in the trader’s records.
-
Requirements for document code Y121 have been updated to show that the document ID, rather than the document reason, is mandatory when declaring Y121. Validation will be introduced on 10 May 2024 to enforce completion of the document ID when using document code Y121. In the meantime, Customs Declaration Service will accept Y121 with either the document ID or the document reason (or both) completed.
-
Text of C672 updated. Change does not impact on the completion requirements.
-
Description and completion requirements for Y951 have been updated. C045, C057, C079, C082, Y053, Y054, Y120, Y121, Y123, Y124, Y125, Y152, Y154, Y155, Y160, Y162, Y163, Y950, Y951, Y955, Y956, Y972, Y926, Y976 & Y986 have been updated with reference to associated document codes for fluorinated gas measures.
-
Document code U084 has been removed. This document code was intended to be used for claiming an EU quota, which is not available in either Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) or Northern Ireland.
-
Document code Y123 has been updated.
-
Document code Y125 has been updated.
-
Amended descriptions and details for document code C519 to clarify that a public customs warehouse type II cannot be used for imports into Great Britain (GB). Y930 & Y931 have been amended. Please note the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/630 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/632 are only applicable to Northern Ireland declarations. This legislation was introduced after the UK left the European Union and is not recognised for GB declarations. GB declarations continue to be covered by the previous EU legislation which was retained at the time the UK left the European Union. Extensive updates have also been made across the code list in regard to the ‘Details to be entered’ relating to specific status codes.
-
The code list has been updated at C045, C701, D021, L100, Y120, Y152, Y154, Y155, Y163, Y784, Y785, Y786, Y787, Y788, Y789, Y790, Y791, Y792, Y793, Y794, Y795, Y796, Y797, Y798, Y799, Y955 and Y972.
-
Document codes Y121, Y160, Y162 and Y163 have been added. Document code Y986 has been amended.
-
Document codes U084, Y111, Y112 & Y896 have been added.
-
Document codes L147 and Y705 have been added for use in Northern Ireland. For document code L147, the following guidance has been issued by the EU — 'A system of certification will be operational as of 1 March 2024 in a pilot phase to be fully operational as of 1 September 2024. During this period, economic operators can choose to use either the traceability-based certification or other evidence (such as KP (Kimberly Process) certificates for non-mixed origin, evidence from traceability systems or laboratory reports) proving the non-Russian origin. A list of accepted evidence will be provided at a later stage. As of 1 September 2024, the use of the traceability-based certification will be mandatory for imports of diamonds with a size of 0.5 carats or above.'
-
Document code A031 has been added.
-
Document codes C092 and Y898 have been added for exports from Northern Ireland.
-
Y123 has been amended to request completion of Additional Information (Data Element 2/2) code FGAS2 with the importer’s Fluorinated Gas organisation ID when declaring document code Y123. Changes have also been made to Codes C064, C068, E990, Y904, Y906 and Y907 to include the wording 'As retained in UK Law' in column C.
-
Document codes C602, N934, U077, U112, Y006, Y007, Y200, Y201, Y202, Y203, Y204, Y205, Y206, Y207, Y208, Y209, Y210, Y211, Y212, Y213, Y214, Y215, Y216, Y218, Y219, Y220, Y221 and Y222 have been updated to show that a document reason is no longer being 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. Document codes Y054 and Y058 have been updated to show that a document ID is no longer being mandated when using one of these document codes. 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 ID field is completed in addition to the document reason. Document codes Y217 and Y925 have been updated to show that Customs Declaration Service is mandating both a document ID and document reason when using these document codes. This is incorrect and will be addressed by a future update, but for now both fields must be completed. Document status codes EP, JE, XF & XU have been removed from document code N934, because they are not appropriate with this document code. Document status code HP has been removed from document codes U110 & U111, because it is not compatible with preference documents.
-
Document codes C091, L146, X841, X842, Y704, Y870, Y872, Y873, Y874, Y875, Y876, Y877, Y878, Y893, Y894 & Y895 have been added. Document code Y891 has been amended. Note – these are all EU document code changes and do not impact on GB declarations.
-
Description of document code D008 has been updated to facilitate the wider use of D008. The commodity code footnotes in the Online Trade Tariff should be referred to for details of the specific invoice declaration required for this code.
-
Amendments have been made to Document Code C505 completion instructions to distinguish between GB and NI Guarantee Waivers following the introduction of XI EORI. Amendments to clarify text have also been made to C626 and C651.
-
Minor text changes have been made to document codes C073, Y105, Y106, Y109, Y110, Y113 and Y115. Document code C100 has been updated to use document status code JP instead of RE. This is a temporary measure until we can remove the requirement for a document status code when declaring C100. Note has been added to clarify that the associated holder of the REX authorisation should only be declared in DE 3/39 if they hold a UK issued EORI.
-
Document code Y850 updated.
-
Document Code Y151 has been added. Amendments made to text within Description and Usage of Document Codes Y854 and Y855 as these codes are now available for use on the UK Tariff as well as the Northern Ireland Tariff.
-
Changes have been made to the text of Union Document Codes C400, C401, C638, C639, C076, C077, C990, X802, Y089, Y824, Y838, and Y908. Please note code Y824 now has two separate rows to reflect its different applications.
-
Document codes C651 and C658 have been updated to show the different legislation applicable in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. The completion requirement for document code C658 has been updated to require the Fallback Local Reference Number instead of an Administrative Reference Code (ARC) number during fallback when it is not possible to generate an ARC number.
-
Document code C658 has been updated to clarify the reference number that should be used during EMCS fallback.
-
Document code X802 added. This is applicable only to exports from Northern Ireland to Ukraine.
-
Amendment made to the Description and Usage of document code C001 to include the words 'UK' to Attestation of equivalence, and 'or EU certificate'.
-
C071 updated to make it clear that the document code can only be used if written consent has been granted for the import of mercury or mixtures of mercury.
-
Document code Y997 updated in line with an EU amendment to the legislation regarding imports. The legal reference has been amended from Article 2(a) to Article 2 of Regulation 692/2014.
-
Changes made to Appendix 5A Union Codes C071, Y924, Y925 & Y969 to include the wording “As retained in UK Law” in column C.
-
The EU have amended the definition of document code Y822 to make reference to Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 Article 3h(2a) instead of Article 3h(2). In this case Article 3h(2a) should not be confused with Article 3h(2)(a). Article 3h(2a) states “The prohibitions referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply to the luxury goods listed in Annex XVIII insofar as their value exceeds EUR 300 per item, unless otherwise specified in that Annex”.
-
Document code X808 has been added.
-
Document codes X805, X806, X807, Y866, Y868 & Y869 added to list of Union Document Codes as part of the latest tranche of sanctions against Belarus. Document code description and completion requirements for document code Y903 has also been updated to reflect differences in UK and EU legislative requirements.
-
Document code Y891 has been added to Appendix 5A.
-
Appendix 5A Union Document Codes Y890, Y892, X993 added.
-
Document code X838 has been added.
-
Document codes L144, L838, X824, X832, X837, X840, Y852 and Y865 added.
-
Union Document code N002 has been updated to include reference to new waiver document code.
-
The use of punctuation and terminology has been standardised for status codes.
-
Document code Y703 has been added. This document code applies only in Northern Ireland. The EU have prohibited the import of certain Ukrainian cereal crops into Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia due to the impact on domestic producers. All Northern Ireland imports of Ukrainian cereal crops impacted by this prohibition qualify to use this waiver.
-
Document Code C600 has been updated to include Freeports.
-
Document code C715 has been removed as it is not required.
-
Document status codes JA and JE added to the list of document status codes which are permitted to be used with document code C673. This will facilitate declaration of document code C673 on Supplementary Declarations for catch certificates which were produced with the Simplified Frontier Declaration. Document status code XW removed from the list of status codes permitted with Y100, to reflect system behaviour. Notes on document codes C085, C640, C673, C678, I004, L001, L079, N002, N851, N853 & Y100 updated to distinguish between when a DUCR is required for licence or Automatic Licence Verification System (ALVS) reconciliation and when it is just required for tracing in trader’s records.
-
Document codes Y803, Y804, Y817, Y819, Y985, Y990, Y991 and Y992 have been deleted and are no longer in use.
-
Document code Y864 added for use on imports from Israel to Northern Ireland.
-
Appendix 5A Union Document Codes have been updated with the following changes. Document codes C651 and C658 have been amended to be exports only. Document codes Y117 and Y118 have had text added to clarify they can only be used with Requested Procedure Codes beginning with 51, 71, or 78.
-
Document codes Y150, Y839 and Y844 added. Document codes C669, C670, C672, Y915 and Y923 updated to reflect the addition of Y150.
-
Document codes L143, X817, X819, X823, X830, X831, X834, X835, X836, X990, X992 added. These are EU document codes applicable only to Northern Ireland declarations.
-
C667 has been updated to show document reason as mandatory rather than conditional. C667 is only permitted to be used with status codes XX and XW, which both lead to the Document Reason being mandatory. Completion requirements for Y054, Y058, Y085, Y200 to Y222 and Y925 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.
-
Document codes Y856, Y857, Y858, Y859 and Y863 have been added to 5A Union Document codes.
-
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. Completion requirements for C517, C518 and C519 amended to show the requirement is to declare the warehouse authorisation rather than the warehouse ID. Document status code requirements for A030, C019, C082, C083, C085, C516, C601, C640, C673, C678, N002, N851, N853, N990, U178, Y006, Y007, Y990 and Y992 have been updated.
-
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. As these have been set up in the format of Union document codes, they have been included here in addition to the published list of National 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.
-
Reference to Annex XVII added under Description and Usage of Code for Union code Y113.
-
Licence Types X061 – X068 have been added.
-
Document codes Y106, Y110 and Y113 have been added.
-
The list of national authorisation type codes used with document code C676 has been updated.
-
Appendix 5A Union Document Codes – codes C639, C990 and X001 updated.
-
Union document codes Y860, Y861 and Y862 have been added.
-
Clarification on the use of document code C400 in relation to other CITES documents. C400 must always be declared together with one of the document codes C401, C402, C403, C404, C405, C635, C638 or C639. CITES documents must be produced at the frontier for endorsement otherwise they may invalidated. Document status code XX can no longer be used with C401, C402, C403, C404, C405 or C406. Waiver document codes Y900 or Y932 can be used when the consignment does not require a CITES document.
-
Document codes Y854 and Y855 have been added.
-
Union Document codes Y997 and Y998 added.
-
The ‘Details to be entered on the declaration’ for code N002 have been amended.
-
Codes L139, L142, X839, Y846, Y847, Y848, Y849, Y850, Y851 and Y853 have been added to Data Element 2/3 Documents and Other Reference Codes (Union) (Appendix 5A).
-
This guidance has been updated to reflect amended instructions at codes C085, C640, C673, C678, I004, L001, L079, N002, N851, N853 and Y100.
-
Completion instructions for document codes N002 and N851 have been amended to reflect the differences dependent on whether the pre-notification was done using PEACH or IPAFFS. The document status codes for these document codes have also been updated. Document code Y946 has also been amended to show that it can be used on both import and export declarations.
-
Document codes U116, U117 and U118 have been removed.
-
The page has been updated with new codes at Y229 and Y999. Codes C603, C604, C606 and C610 have been removed.
-
The page has been updated at CO52, U112, Y900, Y925 and Y950.
-
Document codes Y840, Y841, Y842, Y843 and Y845 have been added as part of a response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
-
Document code Y127 added for consignments of certain foodstuffs to declare that they have not originated in or been dispatched from Turkey. Document codes Y831, Y832, Y833, Y835 and Y838 added as part of the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
-
New union document code U178 for ‘Origin quotas — Product originating in accordance with Annex ORIG-2A’ between the EU, UK and European Atomic Energy Community has been added.
-
Union document codes Y803, Y804, Y817, Y818 and Y819 have been added to cover EU sanctions in response to the invasion of Ukraine. Union document codes D008 and Y939 have had the definitions updated.
-
New codes Y801, Y802, Y805, Y806, Y807, Y808, Y809, Y810, Y811, Y812, Y813, Y814, Y815, Y816, Y820, Y821, Y822, Y824 and Y825 have been added to facilitate the operation of sanctions imposed against Russia and Belarus.
-
The list has been updated at Document Codes A016, C083, U075, U076, U077, U116, U117, U118, U119, X060, X061, X062, X063, X064, X065, X066, X067, X068, X070, X072, Y117, Y118, Y120, Y123, Y124, Y125, Y955, Y956, Y976, Y980, Y983, Y984, Y985, Y986, Y987, Y988, Y990, Y991, Y992, Y993, Y994, Y995 and Y996.
-
This page has been updated to reflect amended completion instructions at C640, C678, N002, N851 and N853.
-
This page has been updated to remove C051, C642, Y039, Y064, Y065, Y068 and Y974.
-
This page has been updated at C014, C015, C017, C018 and C652 with clearer declaration completion instructions. The availability of status codes EA, EE, EL, EL and ES have also been removed at C014.
-
This page has been updated with corrected instructions at Y930 and Y931.
-
This page has been updated regarding ‘Details to be entered’ advice for C052, C667, Y006, Y007, Y034, Y038, Y085, Y105, Y109, Y200-223, Y919, Y951, Y970 and Y971.
-
Updated guidance on document codes permitting the use of status codes UA, UE, UP, US and ‘Details to be entered’ for C667, N934, U112, Y006, Y007, Y034, Y038, Y054, Y058, Y085, Y919 and Y925.
-
Added codes C089 and Y981 to relevant parts of Appendix 5A data table.
-
Appendix 5A has been updated to include changes to the following codes: C008, C084, L081, L082, U031, U052, U072, U073, U074, Y116 and Y980.
-
This page has been updated to reflect code changes, specifically the removal of C087 and Y933.
-
This page has been updated to reflect the revised Appendix 5A: DE 2/3 Documents and Other Reference Codes (Union), specifically a change regarding Document Code Y935.
-
First published.