Published:
31 March 2021
Updated:
15 August 2025
Contents
Actions you need to take
- Determine if your goods are controlled, based on the commodity code and relevant legislation. Refer to the Trade Tariff on GOV.UK. In addition, refer to the Guidance on controlled goods and the online tariff tool on NICTA.
- Ensure you and your haulier/intermediary are registered with the Trader Support Service (TSS). One-time step
- Ensure your haulier is registered for the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) to get a Goods Movement Reference (GMR). One-time step
- Ensure you have obtained the required licences or authorisations pertinent to your goods prior to dispatch.
- Provide your haulier/intermediary with the data required to complete the Entry Summary Declaration (see following pages). Note: If you are registered under the UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS), ensure that the Importer EORI used on the Entry Summary Declaration is the EORI number aligned to your UKIMS authorisation.
- You or your haulier/intermediary need to submit this data through the TSS Portal at least two hours before goods are due to arrive in Northern Ireland (NI).
- TSS completes import declaration requirements.
- Your haulier populates GMR in GVMS using information provided by TSS.
- Once GMR is completed, your haulier can board the ferry and move the goods.
TSS Portal fields: Movement Header
You will need to provide the following information about the movement of the goods:
- Type of Movement
- Identity Number of Transport
- Conveyance Reference Number
- Nationality of Means of Transport
- Carrier XI/EU EORI and details. The parties’ name and address details are mandatory unless Type of Movement is ‘RoRo (accompanied/unaccompanied)’
- Arrival Date/Time
- Port of Arrival
- Seal Number
- Route
- Place(s) of Loading
- Place(s) of Unloading
- Transport Charges
TSS Portal fields: Consignment Information
You will need to provide the following information about the consignment:
- Does Consignment contain goods subject to control, licence or certification?
- Consignor and consignee EORI and details. The parties’ name and address details are mandatory unless Type of Movement is ‘RoRo (accompanied/unaccompanied)’
- Importer EORI and details. The parties’ name and address details are mandatory unless Type of Movement is ‘RoRo (accompanied/unaccompanied)’. Note: for a GB EORI, the importer name and address is required to complete the declaration.
- Exporter EORI and details. The parties’ name and address details are mandatory unless Type of Movement is ‘RoRo (accompanied/unaccompanied)’
- Transport Document Number
- Goods Domestic status
- Destination Country
TSS Portal fields: Goods Record
You will need to provide the following information about the goods:
- Equipment number, if containerised
- UN dangerous goods code
- Type of packages
- Number of pieces or packages
- Package Marks
- Gross Mass (KG)
- Goods Description
- Invoice Number
TSS Portal fields: Additional Information
In some cases, you may need to provide the following information dependent on Type of Movement:
- Buyer EORI and details (if different to Importer)
- Seller EORI and details (if different to Exporter)
- Place(s) of acceptance (if different from place(s) of loading)
- Place(s) of delivery (if different from place(s) of unloading)
- Container indicator (registered shipping container)
Note: Some types of goods may require specific data. Please refer to the relevant checklist for more information.
- Entry Summary Declarations: Checklist for traders of controlled goods
- Entry Summary Declarations: Checklist for traders of excise goods
- Entry Summary Declarations: Checklist for traders of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) goods
Additional data requirements for controlled goods
TSS Portal fields: Consignment Information for Controlled Goods
- Goods Domestic Status
- Warehouse identifier
- Supervising Customs Office
- Declaration Unique Consignment Reference (DUCR)
- Consignment Previous Documents
- Document Class
- Document Type
- Document Reference
- Authorisation Type Code, Authorisation Role ID
TSS Portal fields: Goods Record for controlled goods
- What type of controlled goods are you carrying?
- Net Mass (KG)
- Procedure Code
- Additional Procedure Code
- Country of Origin
- Commodity Code
- Item currency and price / amount
- Supplementary Units
- CUS Code
- TARIC Additional Code(s)
- Tax Base Unit and quantifier (3rd quantity)
- Tax Base Quantity (3rd quantity)
- National Additional Code(s)
- Document Class, Document Type, Document Reference
- Additional Information Code, Additional Information Description
- Document Reference
- Document Code number
- Document Status
- Document Part
- Document (status) Reason
- Writing Off – Issuing Authority
- Writing off – Date of validity
- Writing Off – Measurement Unit (and qualifier)
- Writing Off – Quantity
What is an Entry Summary Declaration?
- Entry Summary Declarations are required for all goods moved from Great Britain (GB) to NI.
- It’s the legal responsibility of the carrier to ensure information is declared via the Entry Summary Declaration, but other parties (trader, haulier or intermediary) can complete it.
How does TSS support Entry Summary Declarations?
- TSS provides a portal for registered traders, carriers and hauliers to provide safety and security information that TSS uses to generate and submit Entry Summary Declarations.
- TSS uses safety and security information from the Entry Summary Declaration and further data provided by the trader to complete import declaration requirements.
What are controlled goods?
- Controlled goods are those requiring additional licences or authorisations before being moved from GB to NI.
- Some common examples are:
- Excise goods
- Goods requiring export licences
- Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) goods
- For more information, please visit Guidance on controlled goods and the Online Tariff Tool on NICTA.
For further help, depending on your journey, please refer to the Data guide: TSS declaration data requirements or consult the TSS Contact Centre for support on 0800 060 8888.