CDS: The importance of the Declaration Unique Consignment Reference - DUCR

Aug 30, 2023

4 min read

The DUCR is an important reference code in the Customs Declaration Service (CDS). We explain what it is, what it is used for and how to declare it.

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Introduction to the Declaration Unique Consignment Reference - DUCR

Every declaration made under the UK's prime filing software, the "Customs Declaration Service (CDS)" has, in addition to the Movement Reference Number (MRN) a Declaration Unique Consignment Reference (DUCR). They serve as an additional reference key for the customs declaration. The old e-customs system of HMRC, the Customs Handling of Import & Export Freight (CHIEF) Import Declaration and the "PEACH Advance Notification" used it as the primary piece of information for matching import shipments that also include plants, flowers, fresh fruit, and vegetables.

The Declaration Unique Consignment Reference - DUCR is mandatory

The declaration of a DUCR is mandatory for all declarations. The same DUCR must be supplied on all linked declarations, for example, a simplified declaration (regular use) with its supplementary declaration.

Why the DUCR matters: Connecting different electronic systems in HMRC

When the DUCR is produced by different parties, such as Advanced Notifications by the importer and import declarations by the agent, it is necessary to communicate the exact format of the DUCR, including any Part suffix (optionally completed), to ensure an exact match can be made.

It is critical to find a match since the instantaneous Licence Verification System (ALVS) may submit decisions to CDS in virtually real-time, resulting in rapid approval for shipments granted green (release) options from the matching IPAFFS Advance Notification.

For removals from warehouse and IP and more: Declaration Unique Consignment Reference - DUCR remains vital

The DUCR is also to be declared on the re-export declaration, where the DUCR is associated with the stock record for the re-export of the goods.

How is the DUCR's made up?

The format of the DUCR should adhere to the Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) structure suggested by the World Customs Organisation (WCO).

Year, country, Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI), traders' reference, and, as relevant location are the fields that constitute a trader-generated DUCR. Here is an example of what you can see in CDS:

3GB345678959000-LOCAL REFERENCE-NUMBER

The DUCR was distributed in the year indicated by the term "Year".

It allocates "3" in 2023 and "4" in 2024, for example.

The trader's identify that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is aware of is known as the "EORI." The 12-character EORI number in use in the UK is this one.

This is followed by a dash is "-'".

The word "Local Reference Number" designates a unique collection of characters and digits that the trader, whose EORI number appears in the DUCR, produces and acts as an audit trail for the trader's financial records.

How must the DUCR be declared in CDS?

The DUCR must be declared in DE 2/1 of the Customs Declaration Service using the Previous Document Type codes ‘DCR’ and ‘DCS’ respectively. The result could be, for example:

Z|DCR|3GB345678959000-LOCAL REFERENCE-NUMBER

Need more help on CDS?

We provide training on CDS and lodge customs declarations for you. Please get in touch and e-mail info@customsmanager.org

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