Update to the Customs Declaration Service to Allow the Use of Special Text Characters in UK Import and Export licences – Notice to Exporters 2025/16

BY:

Gail Leeson
24 June 2025

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Notice to Exporters 2025/16, published 17th June, advises that the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) has been updated to accept the use of special and diacritic characters when declaring UK import and export licences on CDS.

This change to CDS will also include a provision to exclude case sensitivity when declaring the licence details.


The changes were implemented with CDS release 4.8.0 in mid-June 2025.


The workaround in place since late 2024, announced in NTE 2024/31, will no longer be required going forward.


A link to NTE 2025/16 can be found below:

Notice to exporters 2025/16: updated use of special and diacritic characters on the customs declaration service (CDS) - GOV.UK


A link to the S&H article for NTE 2025/31 can be found below

NTE 2024/31: Use of special and diacritic characters on the Customs Declaration Service (CDS)

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