What it means
The tender or lot reference (BT-17) is carried in cac:OriginatorDocumentReference, and EN 16931 reads only its identifier (cbc:ID). This rule checks that there is no cbc:LocaleCode, a code for the regional variant of a language, such as one tied to a country.
Why it matters
This is a warning, so the invoice is not rejected. The standard has no place for a locale on this reference, so the recipient's software has nothing to do with it and usually drops it. Remove it when convenient, so stricter checks do not flag the file.
How to fix it
Open the tender or lot reference in your invoicing software and clear any locale, region or language variant saved with it. Keep the reference number and export again. If the code keeps returning, update the software or ask its supplier. If you build the XML yourself, remove cbc:LocaleCode from cac:OriginatorDocumentReference.
The rule as published
A UBL invoice should not include the OriginatorDocumentReference LocaleCode Where this rule applies
| Rule set | Version |
|---|---|
| EN 16931 (UBL) | 1.3.17 |
| EN 16931 (UBL credit note) | 1.3.17 |
| XRechnung 3.0 (UBL) | 3.0.2 |
| XRechnung 3.0 (UBL credit note) | 3.0.2 |
| Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 (invoice) | 2026.5 |
| Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 (credit note) | 2026.5 |
| SI-UBL 2.0 / NLCIUS (invoice) | 2.0.3.13 |
| SI-UBL 2.0 / NLCIUS (credit note) | 2.0.3.13 |
| France CTC (UBL invoice) | 1.4.0-04 |
| France CTC (UBL credit note) | 1.4.0-04 |
| CIUS-RO UBL Invoice 1.0.9 | 1.0.9 |
| CIUS-RO UBL Credit Note 1.0.9 | 1.0.9 |
Check your file
Drop your e-invoice to see whether UBL-CR-086 still fails, and which other rules do.