UNeDocs Code List Web Service

Code Lists to facilitate international Trade

The use of encoded trade data based on recognized international code sets simplifies trade procedures and reduces the risks associated with international trade. Coded data entries are well defined, reflect common and efficient business practice, avoid ambiguities and misunderstandings and are language independent. Codes are also a precondition to analyse the data in trade documents in an automated manner. Thus the use of codes enables selective risk assessment based on data analysis. The international trade community, through the United Nations, recommends the use of specific code lists such as ISO country and currency codes or UN/LOCODE in international trade. As a service to the trade community the UNECE provides access to the most important code lists on its Web Server. UNeDocs provides these code lists in different formats to support manual access to the code lists and to facilitate integration into in-house ICT systems. In addition UNeDocs provides access to these code list in XML and Web Service format on an trial basis. These Internet compatible format have specific added value for use in electronic trade documents. The UNeDocs repository of code lists for trade data is accessible at http://www.unece.org/etrades/unedocs/repository/codelist.htm

UNeDocs facilitates the use of International Code Lists

The core information on trade documents refers to locations, countries, currencies, amounts, units of measurement, packaging and product codes and movement and transport types. International recommended code lists exist for each of these data. Thus lists for trade data have a specific value when used in trade documents. UNeDocs trade documents fully integrate international recommendations and best business practice in using codes for trade information. In addition UNeDocs documents provide new and automated means to access and process the code lists directly from the PC of the user. The documents thus proliferate the use of these standards within the trade community and specifically provide access for traders in transition economies and developing countries.

UNeDocs XML Schemas for Code Lists

The integration of code lists into electronic trade documents provides significant benefits to the users. The combination of XML technology, electronic trade documents and international code lists in XML format allows traders and administrations to automate documentary procedures and to reduce risks through the use of technology. For example, the receiver of a UNeDocs electronic trade document can validate the document against a UN Schema of business rules that resides on the UNeDocs Web Server. The validation process will check whether the document complies with data requirements and whether the coded data entries are valid. The Schema of business rules references, were appropriate, the international code lists. These code lists reside on the UNeDocs code repository in an XML Schema. The validation process will access the code Schemas and compare the coded values of the trade document with the code list. The validation process is fully automated and transparent for the user. The access to UNeDocs code Schemas is not restricted to UNeDocs documents. Any XML enabled application can validate trade data against the UNeDocs code Schemas as described in the tutorial Using code lists

UNeDocs WebServices

Web Services is a new Internet technology based on XML and W3C standards. Web Services allow automated, hard- and software independent access to services provided by a service provider. Web Services thus support outsourcing of tasks and specialisation in the information supply chain. UNeDocs now provides WebServices for selected code lists for trade data. The service is provided free of charge for all users. The UNeDocs Web Service allows user applications to access data and services directly from a UN managed server through the Internet. The next generation of smart office software will be able to interact directly with this server and deliver the codes directly on the desktop application of the user. Smart software products can provide users with access to UN currency codes directly form their Spreadsheet applications. UNeDocs WebServices provide traders and administrations world wide with latest and reliable codes for trade data. The code lists for the Web Service are centrally managed on the UN server. The Web Service will thus eliminate the need of local maintenance and update of code lists. The facilitated access will promote the use of codes and help to increase efficiency and security of supply chain operations. UNeDocs provides this service currently for test and evaluation.

Release Note: UNECE provides these services "as is". Even though the service is fully functional we currently regard these services as a test and demonstration version only. Standard UN copy right applies.

To learn more about the UNeDocs project click here

To learn more about UN Recommendations on code lists for trade click here