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:HazardousItem block, which holds dangerous goods information such as a hazard class or a UN number. EN 16931 has no field for this block on an invoice line.
Why it matters
EN 16931 does not use hazardous item blocks within a line's item.
How to fix it
Look for a dangerous goods or hazard field on the product in your invoicing software that is exported on the line, and switch it off in the export. If the buyer should see it on the invoice, add a short statement to the item description or the line note. If you build the XML yourself, delete cac:HazardousItem from cac:InvoiceLine/cac:Item (cac:CreditNoteLine in a credit note).
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 HazardousItem 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-596 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- UBL-CR-597 A line's VAT category should not carry a name
- UBL-CR-598 A line's VAT category should not carry a base unit
- UBL-CR-599 A line's VAT category should not carry a per-unit amount
- UBL-CR-600 Exemption reason codes belong in the VAT breakdown, not on a line
- UBL-CR-601 Exemption reason text belongs in the VAT breakdown, not on a line
- UBL-CR-602 A line's VAT category should not carry a tier range