GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Sep 19, 2026
Code list
A code list is a published register of the permitted key values for a particular data element of an electronic message.
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Source: Europäische Kommission, GD TAXUD: EU Customs Data Model (EUCDM), https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/online-services/online-services-and-databases-customs/eu-customs-data-model-eucdm_en (Stand: September 2026)
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Definition & Explanation
A code list is a published register of the permitted key values for a particular data element of an electronic message. Instead of free text, the declarant enters a standardised code, for example for the customs procedure, the packaging type, the means of transport, the document type or the country. In customs, the body that maintains the data model issues and versions the code lists; the EU Customs Data Model publishes its code lists together with the datasets in structured XML format for download. For software providers and customs departments, code lists are the part of the specification that changes most often: a withdrawn or newly added code causes immediate rejections by the customs system if the application still works from the old list. A code list should be distinguished from a dataset, which defines which data elements a message must contain in the first place.
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