Skip to content
Change language: English

Warning

UBL-CR-593: Commodity cargo type codes are not used on invoice lines

In short

Warning: worth checking.

UBL-CR-593 means the commodity classification of an invoice or credit note line holds a cargo type code (cbc:CargoTypeCode), which EN 16931 does not use. It is a warning. Remove it, and use the item classification identifier (BT-158) if you need to send a classification code.

On this page

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's commodity classification (cac:CommodityClassification) contains a cbc:CargoTypeCode, a code for the type of cargo the goods are shipped as. EN 16931 uses this block for the item classification identifier (BT-158), sent in cbc:ItemClassificationCode. This rule checks only for cbc:CargoTypeCode.

Why it matters

EN 16931 does not use cargo type codes within a line's commodity classification.

How to fix it

Look for a transport or cargo field on the product in your invoicing software that is exported into the classification, and switch that export off or leave the exported field empty. If you build the XML yourself, delete cbc:CargoTypeCode from cac:CommodityClassification under cac:InvoiceLine/cac:Item (cac:CreditNoteLine in a credit note). Keep cbc:ItemClassificationCode with its listID if you send an item classification.

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 CommodityClassification CargoTypeCode

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
Rule text from phive-rules 4.6.4.

Check your file

Drop your e-invoice to see whether UBL-CR-593 still fails, and which other rules do.

Updated 6 November 2026