How to Describe Goods Correctly
An adequate goods description ensures smooth customs 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 |
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") |
(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 |