What a BTI is, and what it is worth to you
A Binding Tariff Information decision is a classification decision that an EU customs authority issues to a company that applies for it, for specific goods. It is valid for three years throughout the EU and binds customs towards its holder.
For any other company a BTI binds nothing: the goods must be the same in every detail, and the declarant always answers for the classification. But an existing decision on a similar product is the best hint of how customs will classify yours, far better than a word match in the nomenclature.
How to search
- by words: all of them must appear in the decision's description or keywords; each decision is written in the language of the country that issued it (German for more than half), its keywords in English
- by code: 4 to 10 digits, to see the BTIs in force for a heading or a subheading; a TARIC code counts for its whole CN subheading
- by reference: the EBTI reference (DEBTI11872/26-1) or the national one (FR-BTI-2025-08942), to find out whether a BTI exists and is still in force
The data come from the Commission's EBTI database (DG TAXUD), loaded in full every month and completed every day with its daily publications. The holder's name is not published.
In the file checker
A BTI reference cited on a line of a DELTA IE, IDMS or DMS file is checked in the same database: the BTI must exist, be in force on the declaration date and cover the declared code, otherwise the report flags it as an error. Without a BTI, the report gives the number of BTIs in force for each line's code, with a link to them.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use another company's BTI?
Not to rely on it: only its holder can. But you can use it as a guide to classify identical or similar goods, and apply for your own BTI if doubt remains.
Why are so many decisions in German?
Each BTI is written in the language of the country that issues it, and Germany issues more than half of them. The keywords are in English for every decision: a search in English covers them all.
Is the search free?
Yes, without signing up. The words you search are processed by our server in its copy of the Commission's database, and are neither kept nor sent to a third party.
Is your file ready?
Check it for free in a few minutes, before you prepare your declaration.