What is Binding Tariff Information (BTI)?
Binding Tariff Information (BTI) is an official decision on the correct commodity code (tariff classification) for your goods. You apply to the customs authority of an EU Member State, and the decision is binding on every customs administration in the EU and on the holder.
Under the Union Customs Code, a BTI decision is generally valid for three years and only for the legal entity it was issued to. Applications are made electronically through the EU Customs Trader Portal.
Core principle: A BTI turns a classification question into legal certainty: one code, one duty rate, accepted at every EU border.
Why BTI matters
- Correct duties: different codes carry different duty rates, so the wrong code means overpaying or facing back-payments and penalties.
- Consistency: the same goods are treated the same way whether they enter in Rotterdam, Hamburg or Gdańsk.
- Planning: landed costs and pricing can be fixed with confidence.
- Precedent: the public EBTI database shows how similar products have been classified.
How to get a BTI
1. Prepare the product file
What it is: Technical description, composition, function, photos and, where useful, samples.
Why it matters: Customs classify on facts, so incomplete files cause delays.
2. Apply via the EU Customs Trader Portal
What it is: You need an EORI number and apply to the customs authority of your Member State.
Why it matters: One application per type of goods.
3. Use the decision
What it is: Quote the BTI reference in customs declarations for the goods it covers.
Why it matters: It is binding on customs and on you, including when the code gives a higher duty.
BTI vs BOI
BTI fixes the classification of goods. Binding Origin Information (BOI) fixes their origin. Both are EU decisions valid for three years, and together they determine the duty that applies.
Since Brexit, BTI decisions issued in the EU no longer apply in Great Britain, where HMRC issues Advance Tariff Rulings instead.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a BTI valid?
Generally three years from the start of validity, unless it is revoked or annulled earlier, for example after a change in the tariff nomenclature.
Can I use someone else’s BTI?
No. A BTI binds only its holder, but you can use the public EBTI database as guidance for classifying similar goods.
Is a BTI mandatory?
No. It is optional, but recommended for high-volume or hard-to-classify products.
Official database: European Binding Tariff Information (EBTI).
