Navigate the Customs Declaration Service instructions for inventory exports
Source: gov.uk (2025-04-01)

Follow these steps when preparing to make a Customs Clearance Request on the Customs Declaration Service.

Navigate the CDS Customs Clearance Request Instructions for Inventory Exports:

Ensure that the goods are eligible to be declared using a Customs Clearance Request (CCR) or whether a written export customs declaration must be used.

When completing a CDS Customs Clearance Request (CCR) for inventory exports, it is recommended that you:

Begin with the relevant Declaration Category Data Set Table in Appendix 23 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-23-exports-declaration-category-data-sets/appendix-23-exports-declaration-category-data-sets-landing-page-and-introductory-text) for the type of clearance request being made, for example, Appendix 23C: Declaration Category Data Sets C21e (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-23-exports-declaration-category-data-sets/appendix-23c-declaration-category-data-sets-c21e) for an export Customs Clearance Request (C21e).

The UK Integrated Online Tariff (https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/find_commodity) or the Northern Ireland Online tariff (https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/xi/find_commodity) should then be consulted to find the commodity code for the goods being declared and identify any specific tariff measures or document codes which may apply to the commodity code.Identify whether any documents specified against the commodity code require pre-clearance control. Where pre-clearance documentary controls, such as licences or certificates require endorsement prior to the release of the goods, (for example, animal health are required) then an 8-digit commodity code must be declared in data element (DE) 6/14.

The Index lists for the 4-digit Procedure Codes in Appendix 1B: DE 1/10: Requested and Previous Procedure Codes: Export Customs Clearance Requests should then be used to identify the appropriate procedure code to be declared in DE 1/10 for the treatment or use to which the goods will be released.

The DE 1/10 to DE 1/11 Correlation Matrix (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/4-digit-to-3-digit-procedure-to-additional-procedure-code-correlation-matrix-for-inventory-exports) should then be used to see which Additional Procedure Codes are permitted for use with the chosen 4-digit Procedure Code.Please refer to the CDS Customs Clearance Request Completion Instructions for Inventory Exports (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-trade-tariff-cds-volume-3-c21-customs-clearance-request-completion-guide-inventory-exports), DE 1/10, for rules on whether the standard Procedure Codes from the Exports: guidance on completing an export declaration for the Customs Declaration Service (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-trade-tariff-volume-3-for-cds--2#exports:-guidance-on-completing-an-export-declaration-for-the-customs-declaration-service) or the Procedure Codes specified in this inventory tariff should be used.

The Index Lists for the Additional Procedure Codes in Appendix 2 C21e: DE 1/11: Additional Procedure Codes: Customs Clearance Requests Exports (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-2-c21e-data-element-111-additional-procedure-codes/appendix-2-c21e-data-element-111-additional-procedure-codes-landing-page-and-index-list) should be used, from the list of those permitted with the DE 1/10 Procedure Code, to identify any supplementary conditions that apply to the intended usage for the goods.Please refer to the CDS Customs Clearance Request Completion Instructions for Inventory Exports (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-trade-tariff-cds-volume-3-c21-customs-clearance-request-completion-guide-inventory-exports), DE 1/11, for rules on whether the standard Additional Procedure Codes from the Exports: guidance on completing an export declaration for the Customs Declaration Service (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-trade-tariff-volume-3-for-cds--2#exports:-guidance-on-completing-an-export-declaration-for-the-customs-declaration-service), or the Additional Procedure Codes specified in this inventory tariff should be used.

Appendix 4: DE 2/2: Additional Information Statement Codes (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/additional-information-ai-statement-codes-for-data-element-22-of-the-customs-declaration-service-cds) should then be examined to identify any additional information to be declared, as defined in the Procedure and Additional Procedure Code completion instructions and the UK Integrated Online Tariff (https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/find_commodity) or the Northern Ireland Online tariff (https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/xi/find_commodity) (commodity and procedure code specific requirements).

Appendix 5: DE 2/3: Documents and Other Reference Codes (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/data-element-23-documents-and-other-reference-codes-of-the-customs-declaration-service-cds) with the UK Integrated Online Tariff (https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/find_commodity) or the Northern Ireland Online tariff (https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/xi/find_commodity) should be used to identify any specific documents, licences, certificates or authorisations that need to be declared to export the goods. See also Step 2 (commodity code documentary requirements).

The main CDS Customs Clearance Request Completion Instructions for Inventory Exports (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-trade-tariff-cds-volume-3-c21-customs-clearance-request-completion-guide-inventory-exports), should then be used, in conjunction with the additional completion instructions provided in Appendices 1 and 2 to complete the customs clearance request according to the commodity code and procedures to be used.

Where the completion rules for a specific data element in Appendix 1 C21e: DE1/10: Requested and Previous Procedure Codes (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-1-inventory-exports-de-110-requested-and-previous-procedure-codes/appendix-1-inventory-exports-de-110-requested-and-previous-procedure-codes) and Appendix 2 C21e: DE1/11: Additional Procedure Codes (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-2-c21e-data-element-111-additional-procedure-codes/appendix-2-c21e-data-element-111-additional-procedure-codes-landing-page-and-index-list) specify different rules to the main data element completion guidance or other appendices, the rules specified in Appendices 1 and 2 take precedence.

The clearance request should be completed with continued reference to the appropriate Appendices (please see the Appendices Index list (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-trade-tariff-volume-3-for-cds--2) for details) for the specific data element to identify any specific codes to be used, such as currency and country codes.

Inventory Exports — Customs Clearance Requests: guidance on completing an export declaration for the Customs Declaration Service Contents list

Guidance:

Navigate the CDS Customs Clearance Request Instructions for Inventory Exports (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/navigate-the-uk-trade-tariff-cds-volume-3-inventory-to-assist-in-the-completion-of-customs-clearance-requests)

CDS Customs Clearance Request Completion Instructions for Inventory Exports (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-trade-tariff-cds-volume-3-c21-customs-clearance-request-completion-guide-inventory-exports)

4-Digit to 3-Digit Procedure to Additional Procedure Code Correlation Matrix: Inventory Exports (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/4-digit-to-3-digit-procedure-to-additional-procedure-code-correlation-matrix-for-inventory-exports)

Appendix 1: DE 1/10: Requested and Previous Procedure Codes: Landing page and Index List (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-1-inventory-exports-de-110-requested-and-previous-procedure-codes/appendix-1-inventory-exports-de-110-requested-and-previous-procedure-codes) Appendix 1B: DE 1/10 Requested and Previous Procedure Codes Export Customs Clearance Requests: 00 1x Series Procedure Codes: Inventory Exports (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-1-inventory-exports-de-110-requested-and-previous-procedure-codes/requested-procedure-001x-customs-clearance-request-for-exports-appendix-1)

Appendix 2 C21e: DE 1/11: Additional Procedure Codes Landing page and Index List (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-2-c21e-data-element-111-additional-procedure-codes) Appendix 2 C21e: DE 1/11 Additional Procedure Codes Export Customs Clearance Requests (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-2-c21e-data-element-111-additional-procedure-codes/appendix-2-c21e-data-element-111-additional-procedure-codes-landing-page-and-index-list): 0 series: No Additional Conditions (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-2-c21e-data-element-111-additional-procedure-codes/additional-procedure-code-0-series-no-additional-conditions) 1 series: Other Codes: applicable to more than one Procedure Code (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-2-c21e-data-element-111-additional-procedure-codes/additional-procedure-code-1-series-other-codes-applicable-to-more-than-one-procedure-code) 2 series: Permanent Export of Union Goods (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-2-c21e-data-element-111-additional-procedure-codes/additional-procedure-code-2-series-permanent-export-of-union-goods) 4 series: Re-export of Temporary Admission (TA) Goods (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-2-c21e-data-element-111-additional-procedure-codes/additional-procedure-code-4-series-re-export-of-temporary-admission-goods) 5 series: Temporary Export of Goods intending to claim Returned Goods Relief (RGR) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-2-c21e-data-element-111-additional-procedure-codes/additional-procedure-code-5-series-temporary-export-of-union-goods-intending-to-claim-returned-goods-relief-rgr) 6 series: Transit (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-2-c21e-data-element-111-additional-procedure-codes/additional-procedure-code-6-series-transit) 7 series: Movements and Transfers (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-2-c21e-data-element-111-additional-procedure-codes/additional-procedure-code-7-series-movements-and-transfers) 9 series: Reporting Information (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-2-c21e-data-element-111-additional-procedure-codes/additional-procedure-code-9-series-reporting-information)

Appendix 21 – 23 Combined Reading Notes (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-trade-tariff-volume-3-for-cds--2)

Appendix 23 C21e: Declaration Category Data Sets Landing Page and Introductory Text (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-23-exports-declaration-category-data-sets/appendix-23-exports-declaration-category-data-sets-landing-page-and-introductory-text) Appendix 23C: Declaration Category Data Sets C21e (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-23-exports-declaration-category-data-sets/appendix-23c-declaration-category-data-sets-c21e) Appendix 23D: Declaration Category Data Sets C21e EIDR NOP (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appendix-23-exports-declaration-category-data-sets/appendix-23d-declaration-category-data-sets-c21e-eidr-nop)

Appendices

Appendix 3: DE 2/1: Previous Document Codes (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/previous-document-codes-for-data-element-21-of-the-customs-declaration-service)

Appendix 4: DE 2/2: Additional Information Statement Codes (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/additional-information-ai-statement-codes-for-data-element-22-of-the-customs-declaration-service-cds)

Appendix 5: DE 2/3: Documents and Other Reference Codes (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/data-element-23-documents-and-other-reference-codes-of-the-customs-declaration-service-cds) Appendix 5A: DE 2/3 Documents and Other Reference Codes (Union) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/data-element-23-documents-and-other-reference-codes-union-of-the-customs-declaration-service-cds) Appendix 5A: DE 2/3 Documents and Other Reference Codes (National) (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/data-element-23-documents-and-other-reference-codes-national-of-the-customs-declaration-service-cds) Appendix 5B: DE 2/3: Document Status Codes (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/data-element-23-document-status-codes-of-the-customs-declaration-service-cds) Appendix 5C: DE 2/3: Document and Other Reference Codes: Licence Types (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/data-element-23-document-and-other-reference-codes-licence-types-imports-and-exports-of-the-customs-declaration-service-cds)

Appendix 6: DE 3/39: Authorisation Type Codes (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/authorisation-type-codes-for-data-element-339-of-the-customs-declaration-service)

Appendix 11: DE 4/10: Currency Codes (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/currency-codes-for-data-element-410-of-the-customs-declaration-service)

Appendix 13: Country Codes (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/country-codes-for-the-customs-declaration-service)

Appendix 14: UK Customs Office List (COL) Codes (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-customs-office-codes-for-data-element-512-of-the-customs-declaration-service)

Appendices 16: DE 5/23: Goods Location Codes: Landing Page (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/goods-location-codes-for-data-element-523-of-the-customs-declaration-service) Appendix 16A: DE 5/23: Goods Location Codes: Airports (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/location-code-for-airports-for-data-element-523-of-the-customs-declaration-service) Appendix 16B: DE 5/23: Goods Location Codes: Regulated aerodromes (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/certificate-of-agreement-airports-location-codes-for-data-element-523-of-the-customs-declaration-service) Appendix 16C: DE 5/23: Goods Location Codes: Maritime Ports and Wharves (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/maritime-ports-and-wharves-location-codes-for-data-element-523-of-the-customs-declaration-service) Appendix 16D: DE 5/23: Goods Location Codes: ITSFs (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/internal-temporary-storage-facilities-itsfs-codes-for-data-element-523-of-the-customs-declaration-service) Appendix 16E: DE 5/23: Goods Location Codes: ITSF(R) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/remote-internal-temporary-storage-facilities-codes-for-data-element-523-of-the-customs-declaration-service) Appendix 16F: DE 5/23: Goods Location Codes: ETSFs (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/external-temporary-storage-facilities-codes-for-data-element-523-of-the-customs-declaration-service) Appendix 16G: DE 5/23: Goods Location Codes: BIPs (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/border-inspection-post-codes-for-data-element-523-of-the-customs-declaration-service) Appendix 16I: DE 5/23: Goods Location Codes: GB Place Names and UN/LOCODE Codes (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gb-place-names-and-unlocode-codes-for-data-element-523-of-the-customs-declaration-service) Appendix 16J: DE 5/23: Goods Location Codes: Other Types of Location (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/other-location-codes-for-data-element-523-of-the-customs-declaration-service) Appendix 16K: DE 5/23 Location Code: Designated Export Place [DEP]s (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/designated-export-place-dep-codes-for-data-element-523-of-the-customs-declaration-service) Appendix 16L: DE 5/23: Goods Location Codes: CSE (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/location-codes-to-declare-goods-for-export-at-cse-premises-for-data-element-523-of-the-customs-declaration-service) Appendix 16M: DE 5/23: Goods Location Codes: Rail (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-location-codes-for-data-element-523-of-the-customs-declaration-service) Appendix 16N: DE 5/23: Goods Location Codes: Authorised Consignee Temporary Storage (ACTS) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/authorised-consignee-temporary-storage-acts-location-codes-for-data-element-523-of-the-customs-declaration-service) Appendix 16R: DE 5/23: Goods Location Codes: Roll on Roll off ports (RORO) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/roll-on-roll-off-ports-location-codes-for-data-element-523-of-the-customs-declaration-service) Appendix 16S: DE 5/23: Goods Location Codes: Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/goods-vehicle-movement-service-codes-for-data-element-523-of-the-customs-declaration-service) Appendix 17: DE 5/27: Supervising Office (SPOFF) Codes (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supervising-office-codes-for-data-element-527-of-the-customs-declaration-service)

Appendix 18: DE 6/9 Package Type Codes (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/package-type-codes-for-data-element-69-of-the-customs-declaration-service)

Appendix 19: DE 6/17: National Additional Codes (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-additional-codes-to-declare-with-data-element-617-of-the-customs-declaration-service)

Appendix 20: DE 2/3 and 4/4: Measurement Unit Codes (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measurement-unit-codes-for-data-elements-23-and-44-of-the-customs-declaration-service)

Excise tax types, excise duty rates and supplementary guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/excise-tax-types-excise-duty-rates-and-supplementary-guidance)