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Illustration of a tablet and a parcel

How to Describe Goods Correctly

An adequate goods description ensures smoothcustoms clearance, timely release by the authorities and compliance with regulations (excise goods). In certain countries such as Hungary (EKAER), Poland (SENT) and the United Kingdom (IPAFFS), pre-declaration is also required. In addition, detailed descriptions help with careful physical handling and prevent damage and contamination during transportation and storage.

Is it a ring? Or is it an engagement ring? Specification matters.

What does an adequate goods description look like?

Hereafter, you will find an overview from the European Commission with examples of adequate and inadequate goods descriptions. It is not legally binding, but it is an explicit recommendation that is recognized by all customs authorities in Europe.

1004, 1005, etc. (numbers) 

Not accepted to be only numbers 

WPX, .wpx (file extension) 

File extensions are not accepted 

XXX, … (three or more equal symbols or letters) 

Not accepted to be only three or more equal symbols or letters 

“.”, “-“, “ ” (empty characters) 

Not accepted to be only empty characters 

$%^&< > : " / \ | ? * (special characters) 

Not accepted to be only special characters 

!£12 (special characters and numbers)  

Not accepted to be only special characters and numbers 

Illustration of Mentos Cola and an explosion

Which two goods should never be loaded together?


Answer: Mentos and Cola.


Now you can learn how to describe goods correctly once they are properly packaged:

List of examples of acceptable and unacceptable goods descriptions

Unacceptable Description

Acceptable Description

Accessories  

Bathroom fittings, Lighting and electrical accessories, 

Adapter  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Agricultural products 

Oranges, Fish, Rice, Bread 

Aid consignment 

Blankets, Medications 

Alcohol  

Denatured industrial ethyl alcohol, undenatured industrial ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80 % vol., Whiskey, Rum 

All kind of Cargo 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

All kind of Goods 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Animals  

Horse, Poultry, Bovine 

Apparel  

Men's Shirts, Lingerie, Girls' Vests, Boys’ Jackets 

Appliances  

Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave Oven, Coffee Machines 

Arms  

Daggers, Machine guns 

Articles  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Artwork  

(Specify which type of Artwork: Bust, picture, bronze sculpture) 

As ordered […] 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

As per attached [invoice] 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Attached [manifest] 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Auto  

Ford Fiesta, VW Polo 

Auto Parts 

Automobile Brakes, Windshield Glass for Automobiles 

Automobiles  

Ford Fiesta, VW Polo 

AWB/ HAWB 

(See other specific examples in the table)

Baggage  

(See other specific examples in the table)

Bags (or other types of packaging)

(See other specific examples in the table)

Battery

Lithium batteries

Bazaar goods 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Biological Substances 

(See chemicals or other specific examples in the table) 

Birthday gifts 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Bits  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Boards  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Box  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Cables  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Cars  

Ford Fiesta, VW Polo 

Case  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Caps  

Plastic Caps 

Cartons, CTN 

New packaging made of carton, Cartons to be recycled, A4 print paper packaged in cartons 

Charity  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Chemicals  

The name mentioned in the ECICS database or the actual Chemicals name (not brand name) 

Chemicals, flammable 

The name mentioned in the ECICS database or the actual Chemicals name (not brand name) 

Chemicals, hazardous 

The name mentioned in the ECICS database or the actual Chemicals name (not brand name) 

Chemicals, non-Hazardous 

The name mentioned in the ECICS database or the actual Chemicals name (not brand name) 

Cleaning products 

Detergents  

Clothes  

Men's Shirts, Lingerie, Girls' Vests, Boys',Jackets 

Clothing  

Men's Shirts, Lingerie, Girls' Vests, Boys',Jackets 

Collected items 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Commodity  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Company names 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Component  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Consol, CON, CNSL 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Consolidated cargo 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Consolidated goods 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Consolidated  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Consolidation  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Consumer  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Courier  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Courier bags 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Courier goods 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Courier material 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Unacceptable Description
Acceptable Description

Dangerous goods 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Decorative crafts 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Decorative items 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Decorations  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Didactic articles 

Pencils, Smartboards, Books 

Documents, Documentations, Docs, Dox 

Passports (or any other kind of documents) 

Drugs  

Cough syrup, insulin doses, seasonal flu vaccine (preferably INN name for a pure substance) 

Drums2  

Empty plastic barrels for packaging, Liquid hand soap transported in drums 

e-Commerce  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Electronic equipment 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Electronic goods 

Computers, Televisions, CD Players, Walkmans, Tape Record, Mobile Phones, Monitors, Printers 

Electronic items 

Computers, Televisions, CD Players, Walkmans, Tape Record, Mobile Phones, Monitors, Printers 

Electronics  

Computers, Televisions, CD Players, Walkmans, Tape Record, Mobile Phones, Monitors, Printers 

Equipment, EQP 

Oil Well Equipment, Poultry equipment 

Exhibition goods 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Express  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Firearm  

Machine guns, Guns, Pistols 

Fish  

European Hake, Swordfish, Lobsters, Tuna 

Food  

Prepared cakes, Rice, Tomatoes sauce, Powdered eggs 

Foodstuff  

Beverages (See other examples for "Agricultural products") 

Footwear  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Freight All Kinds 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Fresh Fruit 

Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Pineapples 

Fresh Herbs 

Basil, Thyme, Parsley 

Fresh Plants 

Lavandula angustifolia, Rosmarinus officinalis, Prunus avium 

Fresh Vegetable 

Broccoli, Tomatoes, Onions, Eggplants 

From UPU Postal 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Fruit  

Oranges, Pears, Bananas, Apples, Strawberries 

Fruit products 

Apricot pulp, Apple pulp, Mixed fruits pulp 

Fruit Pulp 

Apricot pulp, Apple pulp, Mixed fruits pulp 

Fuel  

Diesel fuel, Petrol, Gasoline 

Unacceptable Description
Acceptable Description

Garments  

Cotton T-shirts, Silk headscarves 

General cargo 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

General goods 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

General merchandise 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Gift box 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Gifts  

Dolls, Remote Control cars (describe type of gifts) 

Gizmos  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Glass  

Glass panel for windows, Glass blocks 

Goods, GDS 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Granulate  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Handcraft  

(Describe which type of Handicrafts -Vases, dishes, Necklaces, chairs-) 

Handicraft  

(Describe which type of Handicrafts -Vases, dishes, Necklaces, chairs-) 

Handling codes 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Hardware for gift 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Herbs  

Basil, Thyme, Parsley 

Home goods 

Plates, Dishes, Tableware, ( See also examples for "Appliances") 

Household goods 

Plates, Dishes, Tableware, ( See also examples for "Appliances") 

Invoice  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

I.T. goods 

(See examples for "Electronics") 

Industrial products 

(See examples for "Electronics") 

Instruments  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Iron, Steel 

Iron Pipes, Steel Pipes, Iron Building Material, Steel Building Material 

Iso Tanks 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Unacceptable Description
Acceptable Description

Jewellery, Jewelry 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Jewels  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Joint shipping 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Label  

Paper printed A4 labels, Plastic labels 

Leather Articles 

Saddles, Leather Handbags, Leather Jackets 

Line  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Likewise  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Liquids, Fluids 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Live Animals 

Dogs (Labrador retriever), Cows (Aberdeen angus) 

Live plants 

Lavandula angustifolia, Rosmarinus officinalis, Prunus avium 

Unacceptable Description
Acceptable Description

Machine parts 

Pump, Seals, Engines 

Machinery  

Metal Working Machinery, Cigarette Making Machinery, Sewing Machines, Printing Machines 

Machines  

( See Examples for "Machinery") 

Mail  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Materials  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

MDF  

MDF boards, wooden chipboard for MDF 

Meat  

Poultry meat, Beef meat, Pork meat, Lamb meat 

Medical equipment 

Band aids, Medical ventilator, blood sampling syringes 

Medicines  

Antiviral sprays, Viagra pills, Painkillers, Anti-inflammatories, Mucolytic (preferably INN name for a pure substance) 

Merchandise, Merc. 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Metal  

Iron scrap, Steel tubes, Aluminium wire 

Miscellaneous products, Misc, Mixed, Mix 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Model  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

None  

(Describe type of goods) 

Non-Woven  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Odd parts 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Oil  

Mineral oil, lubricating oil, vegetable oil, palm oil 

Ore  

Iron Ore, Copper Ore 

Others  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Unacceptable Description
Acceptable Description

Pad  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Package numbers 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Pallets, PLT 

Empty wooden pallets, Empty steel pallets for airfreight 

Parcel  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Party accessories 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Parts  

(See Examples for "Machine parts") 

Perishables  

Broccoli, Tomatoes, Chicken breasts 

Personal address 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Personal effects 

(See Examples in the Table) 

Pharmaceutical  

Cough syrup, insulin doses, seasonal flu vaccine (preferably INN name for a pure substance) 

Pieces, pces 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Pipes  

Plastic Pipes, Steel Pipes, Copper Pipes 

Plants  

Cut Christmas trees, Tulips bulbs, fresh Lavandula angustifolia in pots, cuttings of rosemary in pots 

Plastic Goods 

Plastic Kitchenware, Plastic House Ware 

Plates  

Vehicle registration plates, Iron plates 

Polyurethane  

Polyurethane Threads, Polyurethane Medical Gloves 

Powder  

Wheat flour type 00, Industrial icing sugar, Iron powder 

Pre-addressed parcel 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Printed material 

Paper labels with logo, Printed plastic fabric in rolls 

Private things 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Produce  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Products  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Propellant  

(See Examples for Chemicals) 

PVC items 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Quilts  

Cotton quilts (beddings) 

Raw material 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Returned goods 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Rod  

Welding Rod, Fuel Rod, Copper Rod 

Rubber Articles 

Rubber Hisses, Rubber Conveyor Belts 

Unacceptable Description

Acceptable Description

Said to Contain 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Sample  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Samples for analysis 

Blood sample for analysis, Salt (sodium chloride) for analysis 

Sanitary goods 

Towels, Buckets, Detergents, Tooth brushes 

Scrap  

Plastic Scrap, Foam Scrap, Iron Scrap 

See [invoice] 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

See attached invoice 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Several  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Several goods 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Shoes  

Men leather shoes, Women plastic sandals, Kids fabric shoes 

Snickers  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Souvenirs  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Spare  

(See Examples for "Machine parts") 

Spare parts, SPPT 

(See Examples for "Machine parts") 

Sporting Goods 

Football shoes, boxing gloves, surf board  

Stuff  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Substance  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Tablet accessories 

Plastic cases for tablets, Chargers for tablets 

Tablets  

iPad, Tablets Samsung 

Technology  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Test  

COVID-19 Quick tests, Leather shoes (sample), Recycled toilet paper (test shipment) 

Textile goods 

Cotton fabric in rolls, Polyester curtains, Cotton sheets 

Textiles  

Linen Fabric, T-shirts (See Examples for "Apparel) 

Things  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Tires  

New car tires 

Tools  

Hand Tools, Electric Tools 

Toys  

(See Examples for "Gifts") 

Tubing  

Copper tubes, Iron tubes 

Uniform  

Men's Shirts, Lingerie, Girls' Vests, Boys' Jackets 

Unacceptable Description

Acceptable Description

Vaccine  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Various  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Various goods 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Various products 

(See other specific examples in the Table) 

Vegetables  

Broccoli, Tomatoes, Onions, Eggplants 

Vehicles  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Waste  

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Weapons  

Daggers, Machine guns 

Wearing apparel 

Men's Shirts, Lingerie, Girls' Vests, Boys' Jackets 

White goods 

(See other specific examples in the table) 

Wires  

Iron and Steel Wire, Copper Wire 

Wooden articles 

Wooden furniture, Wooden kitchen utensils  

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