Electronic Customs Content Data
Individuals and businesses moving goods between the UK and other international countries are required to provide electronic customs content data. This information is a requirement of couriers and customs authorities. Failure to provide this information may result in additional fees, delays, or even the seizure of your items.
What is Electronic Customs Content Data?
Electronic customs content data refers to the information that you are required to attach to any parcel, excluding documents or letters, that is being moved out of the UK, or brought in from overseas. Here’s an example of some of the most common information you’ll be asked to provide:
- Product description
- Country of origin
- Reason for sending
- Quantity of goods
- Package weight
- Value of contents
- Contact information
- Commodity codes
- EORI number (for businesses only)
How UK Postbox use this information
When sending goods to and from the UK, we’ll ask you to provide the required information in digital format via our platform. We’ll attach this information to your package before passing it on to your selected courier or postal provider. If you do not provide accurate information, or you fail to complete any required fields, you will experience delays.
Is this a new requirement?
Following the UK leaving the EU, the information required when sending or receiving parcels was changed, but Electronic Customs Content Data has always been a requirement. Depending on whether you’re an individual or business, you will have to include the relevant commodity code and your EORI number alongside the usual information.
Commodity Codes
Commodity codes help customs departments across the globe to understand what is leaving or entering their country, and what duty, taxes or restrictions to apply. Every commodity code relates to a specific good, including information such as the material, style and colour.
Individuals and businesses must attach the correct commodity code to any goods being sent out of the UK, or being received from an overseas country.
EORI Number
An Economic Operators' Registration & Identification Number (EORI) is used to exchange information between different customs and governmental authorities. You will only need an EORI number if you’re a business moving goods in and out of the UK.
What happens without this information?
The couriers or customs departments we work with will delay your parcel, confiscate it, and you may incur additional fees from customs authorities. Through our platform, we will ask you for the required information when sending parcels, so please ensure that it is accurate and you understand what it means.
To learn more about the changes to required customs content data, you can download our PDF, which covers everything in more detail.
Frequently asked questions about Electronic Customs Content Data
- Do I need to include my EORI number if I'm buying a product from overseas?
- If I'm sending a gift to a family member who lives outside of the UK, do I need a commodity code?
- Will UK Postbox complete this information for me?
- I didn't upload the correct information and now my package is delayed, can you help me retrieve it?
- What is Electronic Customs Content Data?
Do I need to include my EORI number if I'm buying a product from overseas?
Unless you're a business moving goods in and out of the UK, you are not required to include an EORI number in your electronic customs data.
If I'm sending a gift to a family member who lives outside of the UK, do I need a commodity code?
Yes. Individuals and businesses are required to include accurate commodity code information as part of their shipment.
Will UK Postbox complete this information for me?
Our platform will guide you on which details to include, but you must ensure that it is accurate to the parcel being sent.
I didn't upload the correct information and now my package is delayed, can you help me retrieve it?
We will always help our customers locate missing items when choosing tracked or signed for delivery options. However, if the courier or customs departments are dissatisfied with the attached information, any delays or fees are outside of our control.
What is Electronic Customs Content Data?
It refers to the information that is associated with any goods being moved between countries, as per the requirements of couriers, customs departments, and governmental institutions.
