DEP Codes for UK Customs: New HMRC List as of 10 May 2026

19 successive updates. The official list of Designated Export Place (DEP) codes, which declarants are required to indicate in data element 5/23 of the UK Customs Declaration Service (CDS), was amended between April and May 2026 by HMRC. These changes involve additions, modifications, and deletions of locations used by several freight forwarders and logistics operators across the United Kingdom.

The entire updated list of DEPs must be used as a reference for export location reporting, based on the CDS’s own legal framework (HMRC, Guidance updated 10 May 2026).

Latest from HMRC

The official publication "Designated export place (DEP) codes for Data Element 5/23 of the Customs Declaration Service" lists, line by line, the UK sites authorized for the submission of a customs declaration for export. Each code, managed by HMRC, identifies a specific logistics facility. The latest table format emphasizes clarity and whether the DEP site is located in Northern Ireland or within GB proper.

Several additions have been recorded: code GBAUFEMLHRXDM for FG Logistics Ltd (Feltham), GBAUFEMLHRXDL for Swissport GB Ltd (Feltham), GBAUUXBLHRXAA for Nippon Express UK Ltd (Uxbridge), GBAUGTYGTYUBY for Lubbers UK Ltd (Great Yarmouth), GBAULOFLHRXDI for CH Robinson Worldwide (Slough), GBAUSLGIMMBRI for Bring Cargo Ltd (Stallingborough), GBAUSLOLHRXDG for Kintetsu World Express (Slough) and GBAUABDABDUBA for Lubbers (Aberdeen). In total, since 1 April, 19 codes have been added or amended according to the latest change history.

Some warehouse addresses (Airsea Scotland Ltd, UPS SCS, Grampian Continental) have also been clarified or corrected. Deletions include Mark 3 International Ltd (Colnbrook), Nippon Express (Hounslow), and several outdated codes from major providers.

Legal Framework and Scope

Article 70 du code des douanes de l’Union (CDU) (Article 70 of the Union Customs Code (UCC)) stipulates that every export declaration must clearly indicate the physical location of the goods at the time of lodgement. The UK’s CDS aligns with this obligation through data element 5/23, which must match the DEP code managed by HMRC (ASM-BIFA-HMRC CDS Seminar Presentation, 2019).

Since the UK's formal departure from the European Union, the centralization of authorized locations (DEPs) and associated codes enables HMRC to track flows, monitor the status of temporary storage, and ensure the physical traceability of goods across the territory. Any errors in the code or declarations filed for an unauthorized site expose the declaration to rejection or challenge of the requested customs procedure.

Implications for Trade Professionals

Each declarant or freight forwarder responsible for an export operation out of the UK must, for every case file, verify the exact match between the physical location of goods and the DEP code used in data element 5/23. Special attention is required when HMRC updates are issued, as these may impact the validity of customs warehousing or customs procedures authorizations. Use of deleted codes or incorrect addresses frequently results in IT blocks on CDS and can lead to the suspension of export files.

AEO declarants, warehouse operators, and customs compliance managers must immediately update their master data, internal tools, or third-party declaration platforms to integrate the revised list.

In the post-Brexit UK context, HMRC continues to comply with the data architecture required by the European customs model (EUCDM), which mandates a fully traceable starting point for every export declaration (CDS, ASM-BIFA seminar version, 2019).

19 DEP codes added, updated or deleted since April 2026. Mandatory reference for every export declaration in the UK. Official HMRC publication on 10 May 2026.

SOURCES: HMRC, Guidance: Designated export place (DEP) codes for 5/23 CDS, updated 10 May 2026 · ASM-BIFA-HMRC CDS Seminar, 2019, p. 8-15