Published:
01 November 2024
Updated:
01 July 2025
Contents
If there are any words or acronyms in this document that are unfamiliar, refer to the Jargon Buster or use the search tool on the Northern Ireland Customs & Trade Academy (NICTA) website to find a definition.
Introduction
This guide will explain the principles of what constitutes an acceptable goods description for use on an Internal Market Movement Information (IMMI), a full customs declaration, or an Entry Summary Declaration, and will also provide examples. This guide will not give you an acceptable goods description for your goods, but will tell you how to formulate one.
The Goods Description field is mandatory for completing movements in the Trader Support Service (TSS) Portal. It has to be completed using plain language and must provide a detailed description of the goods being moved.
Why do I need to provide a detailed goods description on my movements?
A clear and detailed description provides interested parties with the necessary information required to accurately identify, classify and examine the goods. It ensures smoother clearance, timely release by the authorities and compliance with regulations. Detailed descriptions can also help with careful physical handling and prevent damage and contamination during transportation and storage.
Using generic terms (such as ‘goods’ or ‘gifts’) and inadequate or vague descriptions of goods can result in delays before or after movement.
Considerations for creating a detailed goods description
When entering a goods description it is useful to consider the following:
- What are your goods?
- What are your goods made of?
- What are your goods used for?
- If your goods are packaged this should be included in the goods description
- If the package contains any branded items, it is advisable to include the brand and model number with the description of your goods
For example, if you are shipping screwdrivers, consider the details of the products prior to shipment. Simply putting ‘screwdrivers’ into the Goods Description field does not provide an accurate enough account of the goods. By applying your knowledge of the product, ask yourself questions such as:
- Are they hex, flathead, torx or Philips screwdrivers?
- Are the handles different colours?
- Are they single screwdrivers or packs?
You can then use the answers to these questions to form an acceptable goods description such as: ‘Single Philips screwdriver with white handles in clear plastic case’.
The same logic applies to anything you’re shipping, no matter the size or nature of the goods.
Examples of goods descriptions
You may need to include specific information in the Goods Description field depending on the type of goods you are moving.
For example, where apparel is packaged in sets and separated by size you could enter ‘Women’s cotton T-shirts, size 14, packs of 3’.
For excise goods, a full description of the goods including the volume, brand name and container size must always be provided. For example, you could enter ‘Hand rolling tobacco, Amber Leaf, 500g’.
Alcohol products must also include the alcohol strength. For example, you could enter ‘Vodka, Absolut 1 litre, ABV 37.5’.
When using grouping – where goods are grouped under a single commodity code – the word grouping should be added to the goods description, for example, you could enter ‘Handmade porcelain ornaments, earthenware pottery statues – grouping’.
Note: You should avoid copying descriptions that describe your commodity code directly from the Northern Ireland Online Tariff as this will not provide a precise enough description of the goods being moved.
Further examples of unacceptable and acceptable goods descriptions are listed below:
| Unacceptable Goods Description | Acceptable Goods Description |
|---|---|
| Clothes | Men’s cotton shirts (knitted) – size XL |
| Appliances | Fridge-freezer (combined), 249 ltr, (insert brand name), white |
| Battery | Lithium batteries for household use, size AAA (in packs of 4) |
| Fruit products | Fresh apricots (for human consumption) in crates (48 ltr) |
| Vodka | Vodka (insert brand name) 1ltr, ABV 37.5 |
| Auto parts | Automobile Brakes, Windshield Glass for Automobiles |
If you are submitting an Internal Market Movement Information (IMMI), you can find detailed completion instructions in the Description of Goods guidance in the SPIMM Completion Instruction on GOV.UK.
Where you are submitting a full customs declaration, you can find detailed completion instructions in the Description of Goods for Imports guidance in CDS Declaration Completion Instructions for Imports on GOV.UK.
The Goods Description field on the Entry Summary Declaration
All movements to Northern Ireland (NI) require a safety and security declaration, known as an Entry Summary Declaration. The European Union (EU) mandates that an acceptable goods description be used to help the relevant authorities in identifying the goods being moved.
To facilitate this, a list of ‘stop words’ have been implemented by the EU and if used on an Entry Summary Declaration can cause the declaration to be rejected upon submission.
If a ‘stop word’ is solely used in the Goods Description field on the Entry Summary Declaration, TSS will clear the field and will advise you to enter another description of the goods to ensure that your declaration is not rejected.
The full list of stop words for trade is available on CIRCABC (the European Commission’s document-sharing platform). It is recommended that this list is reviewed regularly as new words can be added at any time.
I need to know more
There are additional guides available on NICTA to support you with trade into and out of NI:
- How to identify your commodity codes
- Guidance on controlled goods and the Online Tariff Tool
- Data guide: TSS declaration data requirements
- Entry Summary Declaration: Step-by-step guide
- How to use the TSS Portal
You can also contact the TSS Contact Centre for support on 0800 060 8888.
Changes to Guidance and Policy
Last updated July 2025.
July 2025: Guidance hyperlink amended
July 2025: New section inserted ‘The Goods Description field on the Entry Summary Declaration’
November 2024: Published