Guidance

Excise movement and control system — service availability and issues

Updated 29 May 2025

© Crown copyright 2025

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/excise-movement-and-control-system-emcs-service-availability-and-issues/emcs-service-availability-and-issues

Service availability

If you’re trying to create, sign in or reset your user ID or password, check for known problems with Government Gateway.

Sign in to excise movement and control system (EMCS).

Planned downtime

None.

Service issues

EMCS customs office data

There was an issue on Wednesday 14 May 2025 and Thursday 29 May 2025 with EMCS not accepting customs office codes.

We have made further improvements and made an update on Thursday 29 May 2025 to resolve this issue.

This update could result in:

  • previous customs office codes being no longer valid
  • error messages when submitting a movement to EMCS

Before making export or import submissions on EMCS, you should check if the customs office codes are valid, using:

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

EMCS movements from Northern Ireland to Italy

The technical issue preventing excise goods movements from Northern Ireland being visible on the Italian Excise Movement and Control System has had a successful temporary fix.

Movements are now visible and Italian consignees have begun receipting these movements with a report of receipt.

Future excise goods movements from Northern Ireland to Italy will also be visible on the Italian EMCS.

Whilst this temporary fix has resolved this issue, we are continuing to work on introducing a permanent fix.

Historic messages

We are aware there is an issue with some traders receiving historic messages the first time they call for messages on the new EMCS service. This issue should only occur on the first attempt.

If you continue to experience this issue, contact the helpdesk.

Customs Declaration Service requesting an EMCS administrative reference code

The Customs Declaration Service is requesting an EMCS administrative reference code on import declarations where goods are being declared to excise duty suspension. 

As the administrative reference code may only be generated after the customs declaration has cleared, it will not always be possible to provide this information at the time you are making the import declaration.

If you cannot provide an administrative reference code, you should declare:

  • document code: C651
  • document status code: UE
  • text ‘Not Applicable’

HMRC will arrange for this issue to be addressed as soon as possible through the Customs Declaration Service validation rules.

Other issues

If you need help with anything not listed here, contact Excise Movement and Control System: general enquiries.

Other services

Check availability and issues for other services.

Back to top