CHIEF vs CDS: The Bigger Picture
CHIEF and CDS both did the same job, UK customs declarations, but the resemblance stops there.
Structure
CHIEF used numbered boxes. CDS restructured declarations into data elements grouped by parties, goods, transport, valuation, and procedure, following the Union Customs Code model. The full context is in this CHIEF and CDS explainer.
Validation
Because CDS elements are defined precisely, validation catches errors that CHIEF's looser box model often missed until later in the process.
Payments
CHIEF offered legacy payment methods with limited visibility. CDS consolidates them into an integrated Financial Dashboard.
The Bigger Shift
The difference is not cosmetic. CDS was built around structured data from the ground up, while CHIEF's box model reflected an older, less standardised approach to customs data.
FAQs
Is CDS just CHIEF with a new look? No, the underlying data structure is fundamentally different.
What does CDS follow as a standard? The Union Customs Code data model.
Watch the difference in a live filing. Watch a demo