Update on Proposed Changes to Document Status Codes for CHED Document Codes

We have previously announced plans to amend the use of document status codes for claiming waivers and exemptions from the requirement to provide a CHED with document codes C085, C640, C678, N002, N851 & N853. Following discussions with DEFRA, these proposals have been amended, although the intention remains to ultimately remove use of document status code XX and restrict document status code XW to only NIRMS declarations when used with any of these CHED document codes.

Use of waiver document codes and waiver document status codes

Declarants must always check that a consignment does not require a CHED before using any of the waiver document code alternatives or using the CHED document code with a waiver status code (XX or XW). For waiver document codes which apply to only specific circumstances, declarants must ensure that the consignment meets the terms of that waiver being claimed.

Document Status code XX

Appendix 5A has already been amended to remove the option of using document status code XX with document codes C085, C640, C678, N002 N851 & N853. This is not currently being enforced by CDS but we would encourage declarants to start using the appropriate waiver document codes instead of declaring the CHED document code with status code XX.

An update will be made to CDS on 23rd October 2025 which will reject a declaration if document code C085 or N851 is declared with document status code XX. If declaring goods which would have used C085 or N851 with document status code XX, then declarants should –

• Confirm that the consignment doesn’t need a CHED
• If the tariff measures for the commodity code include an appropriate waiver document code which can be declared instead of C085 or N851, then use the waiver document code (assuming the conditions associated with the waiver document code are being complied with)
• If the commodity code doesn’t include an appropriate waiver document code, then use C085 or N851 with document status code XW. DEFRA are reviewing the tariff measures and we would anticipate having all the appropriate waiver document codes in place in the near future.

Document Status Code XW

Previously announced plans to restrict use of CHED document codes with document status code XW to only NIRMS consignments, has been delayed for now. DEFRA are reviewing the waiver document codes available against the CHED document code tariff measures.

EU CHED-PP measure

We are still anticipating that the EU will add their CHED-PP measure to the Northern Ireland Tariff on 20th October 2025 with an entry into force date of 29th October 2025. This will add a requirement for declaring the CHED-PP against document code C085 or alternatively declare one of the waiver document codes Y122, Y146 or Y979 if the consignment qualifies for one of the permitted waivers.

Following discussions with DAERA, it has been established that use of document code Y146 to claim a waiver from producing a CHED, is subject to the importer holding a licence to import the product for scientific purposes. We will therefore be changing the completion requirements for Y146 from being a simple waiver requiring completion of the document reason, to requiring declaration of the import licence identification in the document ID field. A system change is required to stop CDS mandating completion of the document reason field when Y146 is declared, so we will initially require both the document ID and document reason to be completed with the licence ID when using document code Y146.

UK Trade Tariff Measures Using Document Code C085

Testing is planned for later in 2025 to ensure that document code C085 will operate effectively in conjunction with BTMS. Following this, we would anticipate the UK tariff measures being updated to mandate declaration of the CHED-PP against C085, but we don’t currently have a timetable for this change

Issued by HMRC
2nd October 2025