What it means
The rule looks at the item on every invoice line (or credit note line) in a UBL file. It warns when the item contains a cac:ItemSpecificationDocumentReference block, a reference to a document that specifies the item, such as a data sheet. This check concerns the reference inside cac:Item, not supporting documents (BG-24) at document level.
Why it matters
EN 16931 does not use item specification document reference blocks within a line's item.
How to fix it
Remove the item specification reference in your invoicing software or export mapping. If you need to include the data sheet or specification, add it as a supporting document (BG-24). If you build the XML yourself, delete cac:ItemSpecificationDocumentReference from cac:InvoiceLine/cac:Item (cac:CreditNoteLine in a credit note) and use cac:AdditionalDocumentReference at document level for the supporting document.
Once the file is corrected, check it again for free: Validate an invoice against EN 16931
Or fix the invoice in a form and download the corrected file, for 1 credit: Fix a rejected e-invoice
The rule as published
A UBL invoice should not include the InvoiceLine Item ItemSpecificationDocumentReference 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-590 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- UBL-CR-591 The item's country of origin should not include a name
- UBL-CR-592 Commodity nature codes are not used on invoice lines
- UBL-CR-593 Commodity cargo type codes are not used on invoice lines
- UBL-CR-594 Commodity codes should use the item classification code
- UBL-CR-595 Transaction conditions are not used on invoice lines
- UBL-CR-596 Hazardous item details are not used on invoice lines