Appendix 21: Import Declaration Category Data Sets
Find out about the the specific data elements needed for each declaration category when making an import declaration on the Customs Declaration Service.
Updates to this page
- From:
- HM Revenue & Customs
- Published:
- 1 August 2018
- Last updated:
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6 October 2026
Show all updates
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'Appendix 21H: Declaration Category Data Sets H7’ and 'Appendix 21H: Introduction to Declaration Category Data Sets' have been updated to confirm Declaration Category H7 may currently only be used for movements into Northern Ireland (NI) under the UK Carrier Scheme (UKC) that are 'not at risk' of entering the EU.
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To incorporate declaration simplifications, changes have been made to the H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, I1 C&F, and I1 B&E Data Sets.
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To incorporate declaration simplifications, changes have been made to the H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, I1 C&F, and I1 B&E Data Sets.
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Data Sets H1, H2, H3, H4, H5 and I1 B&E have been updated with new reading note information at DE 8/6.
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Appendix 21: Introduction to Declaration Category Data Sets has been updated to remove references to the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system as the service is no longer active. Notes regarding previously deleted table content have also been removed.
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Data Set tables have been standardised.
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Blank table cells throughout the collection have been filled with em-dashes (—) to meet accessibility standards. Technical content remains unchanged.
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Data sets H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, I1 C&F and I1 B&E have been updated with new reading note information at DE 3/15.
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Data element 3/40 updated all allow the use of Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) with the H7 data set. Please also refer to the latest version of the Known Error List (KELs) for interim workarounds that apply to IOSS.
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Appendix 21A has been updated at DE 2/2, 3/40, 4/1, 4/9 and 5/15, Appendix 21B has been updated at DE 2/2, Appendix 21C has been updated at DE 2/2, 4/1 and 4/9, Appendix 21D has been updated at DE 2/2, 4/1, 4/9 and 5/15, Appendix 21E has been updated at DE 2/2, 4/1, 4/9 and 5/15, Appendix 21F has been updated at DE 2/2, 4/1, 4/9, 4/17, 5/15 and 6/1 and Appendix 21G has been updated at DE 2/2, 4/1, 4/4, 4/6, 4/7, 4/9 and 6/2.
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A new file titled 'Appendix 21H' has been added and amendments have been made to file 'Appendix 21: Introduction' to reflect the introduction of the new H7 Declaration Category (Super Reduced Data Set (SRDS)) and the introduction of new procedures for Grouping (declaring different products under a single commodity code)
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Appendix 21E has been updated to remove an unnecessary reading note reference for DE 8/5. Appendix 21G has been updated to remove unnecessary reading note references for DE 1/10, DE 1/11 and DE 4/17.
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Note 46d has been added to data elements 4/4 and 4/14 in the 'Appendix 21F: Declaration Category Data Sets I1 C&F' attachment, and also added in the 'Declaration Category Data Sets Reading Notes' attachment.
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The Declaration Category Data Sets Reading Notes have been updated to reflect note changes, specifically, for 11b, 11c, 12f, 12n, 12o, 12r, 31, 68 and 68a.
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First published.
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Documents
Reading notes for Declaration Category Data Sets: CDS Declaration and Customs Clearance Request Instructions
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/declaration-category-data-sets-reading-notes-for-the-cds-uk-trade-tariff-volume-3
Details
This appendix provides a detailed breakdown of the specific data elements needed for each declaration category.