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Standard Unit Quantity Codes (UQCs) for Import and Export - IndiaFilings

Last updated: December 7th, 2022 11:57 AM

Standard Unit Quantity Codes (UQCs) for Import and Export Authorization

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has specified Standard Unit Quantity Codes (UQCs) for Import and Export Authorization vide Trade Notice No. 26/2020-2021 dated 14.09.2020. It has been noted that the use of Non- standard and Non-convertible UQCs lead to poor quality of data capture and related consequences. Hence, DGFT had exercised to standardize Unit Quantity Codes (UQCs) for export/import declarations filed on EDI. As per this notification, DGFT announced that new export/import authorization would be issued only based on standard Unit Quantity Codes (UQCs). Exporters/importers are advised to use the Standard Unit Quantity Codes (UQCs) while applying for Import/Export Authorization. The present article briefly explains Standard Unit Quantity Codes (UQCs) for Import and Export Authorization.

Important Announcement for Exporter & Importer

The government has issued the notice with the objective of standardization in the data collection for clean data reporting and analysis.

Conditions for applying for New Export/Import Authorizations

As per the notification, new export/import authorization will be issued based on standard Unit Quantity Codes (UPCs). Regional Authorities (RAs) will not approve Non-standard units such as BoU, packs, Boxes, cartons, and bottles. For issuing the authorization based on the standard UQC, necessary changes are being made in the DGFT Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system.

Conditions for Using the existing Export/Import Authorizations

To ensure shipment, the Customs department will allow the authorizations which already issued and carrying non-standard units such as BoU, packs, Boxes, cartons, bottles, etc., till 30.10.2020 by accepting exporter’s shipping bills in the UQCs provided in ICEGATE. Exports/imports without standard UQCs will not be permitted after 1.11.2020.

Convert Import & export quantities to Standard Quantity Units

For shipping the goods after November 2020, the authorization holders are requested to approach the concerned Regional Authority (RA) and get the non-standard units indicated in the authorizations in the import and export quantities converted to standard quantity units. If RAs face any difficulty carrying out these amendments, they will contact the concerned Norms Committee (NC).

Standard Unit Quantity Codes in Bills of Entry and Shipping Bills

Usage of harmonized standard Unit Quantity Codes (UQC) at the filing of Shipping Bills and Bills of Entry in ICEGATE is being mandated through various public notices issued by customs formations during August 2020. Declaration of quantities in Statistical UQCs (SQCs) as prescribed under the Tariff Act has been made mandatory in imports and exports. In addition to the amounts declared in the commercial units as per the invoice. The SQC declarations are captured in the Single Window table of the Bills of Entry and Shipping Bills.

Standard Unit Quantity Codes

To further improve the data quality, even among the commercial UQCs declared for the items as per the invoice, only codes mentioned below will be permitted in Export/Import Authorisation.

Sl.No	UQC	Description	Sl.No	UQC	Description
1	CBM	Cubic Meter	19	MGS	Milligrams
2	CCM	Cubic Centimeter	20	MTR	Meter
3	CMS	Centimeter	21	MTS	Metric ton
4	CTM	Carat	22	NOS	Numbers
5	DOZ	Dozen	23	PCS	Pieces
6	FTS	Feet	24	PRS	Pairs
7	GIF	GRMFissile Isotope	25	QTL	Quintal
8	GMS	Grams	26	SET	Sets
9	GRS	Gross	27	SQF	Square Feet
10	GYD	Gross Yard	28	SQI	Square Inches
11	HKS	Hanks	29	SQM	Square Meter
12	INC	Inches	30	SQ Y	Square Yards
13	KGA	Kilogram Activity	31	TBS	Tablets
14	KGS	Kilograms	32	THD	Thousands
15	KLR	Kilolitre	33	TKW	Thousand Kilo Watt Hour
16	KWH	Kilo water hour	34	UNT	Units
17	LBS	Pounds	35	VLS	Vials
18	LTR	Liters	36	YDS	Yards

Nonconvertible/inappropriate Unit Quantity Codes (UQCs) lead to poor quality of data captures and related implications.
The usage of UQCs like BGS, BTL, BOX, CTN, GGR, HPT, KPC, ODD, and DRM by the importers and exporters is prohibited for import/export authorization.

The notification about the Standard Unit Quantity Codes (UQCs) for Import and Export Authorization is as follows: