UK CDS licence-type codes for Data Element 2/3 now live

HMRC releases CDS licence-type code reference

On 18 May 2026, HMRC published the definitive list of licence-type codes for use in Data Element 2/3 of the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), the UK's post-Brexit customs-declaration platform.

"Find a list of codes for the types of Government Department licences that can be declared for imports and exports in Data Element 2/3 (Appendix 5C)."

Data Element 2/3 is the field in CDS declarations where traders declare the type and reference number of any Government Department licence required to move specific goods—such as import licences for textiles, export authorisations for controlled items, or sector-specific permits.

Who is affected

This guidance applies to:

• UK importers using CDS to declare goods subject to import licensing (e.g. quotas, preferential-origin licences, restricted-goods permits)
• UK exporters declaring goods requiring export authorisation (e.g. dual-use items, certain chemicals, waste exports)
• Customs brokers and freight forwarders preparing declarations on behalf of clients
• Software providers building CDS integration tools for customs-declaration workflows

Any trader or agent submitting a CDS declaration for a licenced commodity must select the correct code from Appendix 5C to avoid declaration rejection or penalty.

What this means for shippers

Any shipment requiring a UK Government licence must now cite the exact code from HMRC's Appendix 5C in Data Element 2/3, or your CDS declaration will be rejected. Review your commodity codes and licensing requirements immediately, and brief your customs broker or internal team on which licences apply to your product lines. Failure to use the correct licence-type code can delay clearance and trigger penalties. Consult HMRC's full CDS guidance to identify your licence requirements by HS chapter and commodity type.

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