About this tool
A commodity code is the 10-digit number that classifies goods in the tariff. Attached to it are measures: duties, quotas, controls and prohibitions that change with the origin and the date. This explorer shows all of them for one code.
Pick the goods, say whether they are imported or exported and where they come from or go to, then choose what you want to see. The answer opens on those sections; legal basis, measure type codes, conditions, additional codes and footnotes sit one click away. For each controlled measure it shows the permitted combinations of document codes, so you can see what to enter on a CDS declaration. Declarants, agents and compliance staff use it.
It reads the UK Trade Tariff. It does not choose a code for you, and it does not guarantee a quota allocation.
How this was worked out
What the tool does with your answers, in order.
Search for the goods in your own words, type the commodity code, browse by section, chapter and heading, or pick a popular product.
Say whether the goods are imported or exported, and the country they come from or go to (or all countries).
Choose what you want to see: duties and VAT, controls, quotas, trade remedies or what goes on the declaration.
Optionally pick a past date; the answer is then labelled “As at” that date.
Read your sections first; the rest, rules of origin, notes and the tariff position open from the list below them.
Compare two countries side by side, or copy a table or a PDF for your entry file.
Worked example: A veterinary control with three document options (illustrative)
- Veterinary controlprovide one of these
- Option 1N853, CHED-P reference
- Option 2C084, exemption statement
- Option 3Y058, personal consignment waiver, up to 2 kg
- Each code appears as a copyable chip, with the CDS completion guidance in a disclosure
Illustrative example with made-up figures, not a real tariff line.
Your questions, answered.
Short answers about the Tariff Measures Explorer.
What is a tariff measure?
A measure is a rule attached to a commodity code in the tariff. It can be a duty rate, a quota, a prohibition, a licence or certificate requirement, or a trade remedy. Measures vary by the country the goods come from or go to, and by date, which is why the explorer asks for both.
What do I enter on a CDS declaration for a controlled measure?
Where a measure has conditions, the tariff lists the permitted combinations of document codes. The explorer shows each combination as an option, such as a certificate reference or an exemption statement, and you provide one. The tariff’s CDS completion guidance is included. Check it against HMRC’s current instructions before filing.
Does a quota mean I will get the lower rate?
No. A quota is a limited volume of goods that can be imported at a lower rate. The explorer shows the quota order, the in-quota rate, the normal rate and the status, plus the balance where the tariff publishes it. Whether you receive an allocation is a separate matter.
What is an additional code and why does it matter?
An additional code identifies a specific company or product variant, mostly where anti-dumping or countervailing duties apply. Different producers may face different rates. If a trade remedy attaches to your code and origin, the explorer warns you and lists the additional codes to choose from.
Can I look at an earlier date?
Yes. Past dates are allowed and the page is labelled “As at” that date, which helps when you are checking an old entry. A badge also marks measures that changed in the last 30 days. For future dates, only measures already published in the tariff appear.
Where does the data come from?
From the UK Trade Tariff: commodities, headings, quotas, rules of origin, certificates, additional codes, footnotes and the changes feed. It is refreshed daily and cached for 24 hours. The explorer shows the date checked. UK government data is reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
What does the explorer not cover?
It does not cover the EU tariff or TARIC, and Northern Ireland movements are flagged, not shown. It does not advise on classification, work out the duty payable, or confirm that a document will be accepted. Use the Duty & VAT Calculator for the amount.
Data sources
- UK Trade Tariff United Kingdom · daily; cached 24 hours
- GOV.UK: CDS tariff guidance (code lists) United Kingdom · monthly check
United Kingdom · data checked 3 Oct 2026. UK government data is reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Guidance only — not adviceWhat this tool is, and is not
This tool gives general guidance and indicative figures based on the information you enter and on official data available at the date shown. It is not legal, tax, customs or financial advice, it is not a ruling or a decision by any customs authority, and it does not recommend any course of action, guarantee, amount, route, supplier or service.
Customs authorities decide the classification, value, origin, charges and guarantee amounts that apply. You remain solely responsible for your declarations, guarantees, shipments and transactions, and for checking every figure against HMRC’s published guidance and the official sources before you rely on it or act on it.
Rates, rules and data can change without notice, and the results may be incomplete or inaccurate. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Customs Declarations UK accepts no liability for any loss, cost, penalty, delay or damage arising from the use of, or reliance on, this tool or its results.
