CDS release 5.3.0.1 is scheduled for deployment on 22 October 2026, introducing further declaration validation requirements and additions to the CDS code lists. The changes cover document codes, measurement units, goods location codes and Additional Information (AI) codes, including requirements for Northern Ireland declarations.

Pre-lodged declarations affected by these changes must be amended before the goods arrive. Affected declarations that do not meet the updated requirements at arrival will be rejected.

The following sections detail the changes applicable to all movements, exports and imports.

All movements update

Document codes

The following document codes will be added to the CDS code list: L159, X803, Y149, Y681, Y764, Y771, Y772 and Y773.

Appendix 5A will be updated with the full completion instructions for these codes.

New measurement unit codes

The following measurement unit codes will be added to the CDS code list as part of this release. They should be used only where specified by the online tariff or declaration completion instructions.

• ENP – 1 EUR/Nat Curr for each Euro or Member State national currency of the net, free-at-Union-frontier price, before duty of the product concerned.
• KBL – Kg boneless weight.
• KCW – Kg carcass weight.
• KSE – Kg shellegg weight.
• MPR – 1000 pairs.

New measurement unit qualifier

Measurement unit qualifier O will be added for use with measurement unit TNE – Tonne.

The qualifier is used to declare the content of grain-oriented flat-rolled products of silicon electrical steel. It should be used only where directed by the online tariff.

Goods location codes

Appendix 16 will be updated to include the new goods location codes (GLCs) introduced by this release.

Export update

Additional Information code NIEXP – DE 2/2

Where AI code NIEXP is declared in DE 2/2 at item level, NIEXP must also be declared in DE 2/2 on every other goods item on the declaration.

A multi-item declaration will be rejected if NIEXP is declared on one goods item but is missing from any other goods item.

Import update

Melt and pour steel document codes.

This release introduces further validation of melt and pour steel document codes for Northern Ireland (NI) declarations.

At least one document code must identify the country of melt and pour: the country where the steel was originally melted and poured.

Where the imported steel comprises steel melted and poured in different countries, a separate document code must be entered for each country.

The country of melt and pour document codes are: Y376, Y377, Y378, Y379, Y380, Y381, Y382, Y383, Y384, Y385, Y386 and Y387.

Alongside the country of melt and pour document code, at least one document code must identify the document containing supporting evidence of the country of melt and pour.

Where steel is sourced from different suppliers, the documents relating to each supplier must contain the supporting evidence of melt and pour.

The supporting evidence document codes are: C131, C132, C133, C134, C135, C136, C137, C138 and C139.

Failure to declare the correct combination of document codes may result in the declaration being rejected.

Additional Information codes NIDOM and NIIMP – DE 2/2

Where AI code NIDOM or NIIMP is declared in DE 2/2 at item level, every other goods item on the declaration must also contain either NIDOM or NIIMP in DE 2/2.

The same code does not need to be used on every goods item. However, each item must contain one of these two codes.

The declaration will be rejected if NIDOM or NIIMP is declared on any goods item and neither code is declared on another goods item.

New Additional Information codes – DE 2/2

The following AI codes will be added to the CDS code list as part of this release: GRDEF, NIDSF, TSSA and TSS45.

Appendix 4B will be updated accordingly.

Additional Information code GRDEF

AI code GRDEF may be used only where all of the following conditions are met:

• The requested procedure is 40.
• Additional Procedure Code (APC) F47 is declared in DE 1/11.
• DE 2/2 also contains AI code NIDOM or NIIMP.

If GRDEF is declared and any of these conditions is not met, the declaration will be rejected.

Additional Information code TOR01

Declaration categories: H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6, H8, I1, C21I and C21IEIDR.

Where the first eight digits of the commodity code are 99050000, AI code TOR01 must also be declared in DE 2/2 on the same goods item.

The declaration will be rejected if you do not declare TOR01 alongside commodity code 99050000. Further guidance is available in the completion instructions in Appendix 4B.