Customs Acronyms Glossary

Anti-Dumping Duty

Additional duty imposed when goods are imported at a price lower than their normal market value in the exporting country.

Authorised Economic Operator

Companies accredited by customs as trustworthy and compliant traders, granted simplified procedures and fewer checks.

Air Waybill

Non-negotiable transport document for air freight, issued by the airline or freight forwarder.

Bill of Lading

Legal document between shipper and carrier for sea freight. Serves as receipt, title of goods, and evidence of contract.

Binding Tariff Information

Official customs ruling that confirms the correct HS classification for specific goods, legally binding for 3 years.

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

EU regulation requiring importers of certain goods to pay a carbon price equivalent to the EU ETS.

Cubic Metre

Standard unit of volume measurement used in freight. Used to calculate chargeable weight and container fill.

Customs and Border Protection

The US federal agency responsible for border security and trade compliance.

Customs Declaration Service

The UK's primary system for submitting import and export customs declarations, replacing CHIEF.

Cost, Insurance & Freight

Incoterm where seller pays freight and insurance to the named destination port. Used as EU/UK customs value base.

Combined Nomenclature 8-digit

The EU's 8-digit commodity code system, extending the HS code with 2 additional digits for EU-specific purposes.

Certificate of Origin

Document certifying the country where goods were manufactured. Required for preferential tariff rates and some import controls.

Countervailing Duty

Additional duty to offset subsidies provided by foreign governments to their exporters.

Customs Warehousing

Procedure allowing non-EU goods to be stored under customs control without payment of duty until released.

Delivered at Place

Incoterm where seller is responsible for delivery to the named destination, excluding import duties.

Delivered Duty Paid

Incoterm where seller bears all costs including import duties, taxes, and clearance at destination.

Export Accompanying Document

Document that accompanies goods during transit on export, generated when the export declaration is accepted.

Entry Summary Declaration

Safety and security declaration filed with EU/UK customs before goods arrive. Required for goods from third countries.

Economic Operators Registration and Identification

Unique number assigned to businesses for customs purposes in the EU and UK. Required to import or export.

Ex Works

Incoterm where buyer bears all costs and risk from the seller's premises.

Free Carrier

Incoterm where seller delivers goods to named carrier or place, suitable for all transport modes.

Full Container Load

Sea freight where one shipper uses the entire container. Opposite of LCL.

Freight House Bill of Lading

Bill of lading issued by a freight forwarder to a shipper, separate from the master bill issued by the carrier.

Free On Board

Incoterm where seller loads goods on the ship. Risk transfers at the ship's rail. Used as US customs value base.

Free Trade Agreement

Bilateral or multilateral agreement reducing or eliminating tariffs and trade barriers between signatory countries.

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

International treaty that laid the groundwork for the WTO. WTO customs valuation rules derive from GATT Article VII.

House Bill of Lading

Bill of lading issued by the NVOCC or freight forwarder. Contrasts with MBL (Master Bill of Lading).

Harmonised System

International nomenclature for classifying traded products, maintained by the WCO. The basis for all tariff codes globally.

Harmonised Tariff Schedule

The US version of the HS code, extended to 10 digits for import classification.

Import Control System 2

EU advance cargo information programme requiring electronic pre-notification before goods enter the EU.

Inward Processing

Customs procedure allowing goods to be imported duty-free for processing/repair and then re-exported.

Less than Container Load

Sea freight service where cargo from multiple shippers shares a container. Opposite of FCL (Full Container Load).

Local Reference Number (Import)

Unique number assigned by the declarant to link customs entries with commercial records.

Master Bill of Lading

Bill of lading issued by the shipping line to the freight forwarder. Contrasts with HBL.

Movement Reference Number

18-character alphanumeric number assigned by customs when a declaration is accepted. Used for tracking and amendment.

New Computerised Transit System

EU/UK electronic system for managing customs transit procedures (T1, T2, TIR) across participating countries.

Outward Processing

Customs procedure allowing EU/UK goods to be temporarily exported for processing and re-imported with partial duty relief.

Power of Attorney

Legal authorisation allowing a customs broker or agent to act on behalf of an importer or exporter.

Port of Discharge

The port where cargo is unloaded from the vessel.

Port of Loading

The port where cargo is loaded onto the vessel for transport.

Roll-on/Roll-off

Type of vessel where wheeled cargo drives on and off the ship. Key for UK-EU ferry traffic.

Single Administrative Document

Standardised customs declaration form used across EU and UK (the paper form behind electronic declarations).

External Transit

Customs transit procedure for non-EU goods moving between EU customs offices under suspense of duties.

Internal Transit

Customs transit procedure for EU goods moving across non-EU countries while retaining their EU customs status.

Tarif Intégré Communautaire

The EU's integrated tariff database combining CN8 codes with duty rates, measures, and trade policy instruments.

Transports Internationaux Routiers

International customs transit regime for road transport, allowing goods to cross borders with simplified controls.

Union Customs Code

The legal framework governing EU customs law, replacing the Community Customs Code in 2016.

Unique Consignment Reference

Reference used to link customs declarations to commercial documents throughout the supply chain.

Value Added Tax

Consumption tax applied to imported goods. Payable at the point of import based on customs value + duty.

World Customs Organisation

Intergovernmental body maintaining the HS nomenclature and supporting customs cooperation globally.

World Trade Organisation

International body governing global trade rules. WTO valuation agreement defines customs value calculation methods.