Knowledge base
CN code and sanctions: how to read the annexes to Regulation 833/2014
Updated: 26 June 2026
A CN code is an eight-digit symbol from the Combined Nomenclature that EU sanctions use to identify goods. The annexes to Regulation 833/2014 list codes or whole tariff headings, and the provision attaches a specific ban to them, which is why reading goods sanctions starts with correctly reading the code and its level of detail.
What a CN code is
CN, the Combined Nomenclature, is the EU system for classifying goods based on the Harmonised System (HS). The first six digits come from the HS and are the same worldwide, the next two digits are the EU extension. The CN code is updated every year and it is the one you use in customs declarations.
EU goods sanctions are anchored precisely in CN codes, because it is an unambiguous, neutral language of classification. Instead of describing goods in words, the provision points to a tariff heading, which limits disputes over whether a given product is covered by a ban.
How the annexes to 833/2014 are built
Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 introduces restrictive measures against Russia. The text of the articles describes the mechanism of the ban, while the specific goods are listed in the annexes. An example is Annex XXIII, linked to Article 3k, which covers goods that could contribute to strengthening Russian industrial capacity.
In practice this means reading in two stages. First you establish whether your CN code appears in any of the annexes. Then you check in the relevant article what the ban consists of, that is whether it concerns export, import or transfer, and what the exceptions are.
The prefix rule, that is 4-digit headings and full codes
The annexes sometimes list a full 8-digit code, and sometimes a whole shorter heading, for example a 4-digit one. The shorter heading covers all detailed codes that begin with it. This is the prefix rule.
So heading 7304 covers, among others, 7304 11 00 and 7304 19. When checking goods, always look at the full code and at its parent heading. Skipping the parent level is a typical mistake that leads to the false conclusion that the goods are free of restrictions.
The direction of the ban matters
The same code can be subject to a different type of restriction. The most common types are an export ban, an import ban and a transfer ban. For an exporter the direction is crucial, because an import ban on a particular category of goods from Russia does not in itself block the export of other goods there.
The tool shows the type and direction of the restriction for each matched code, but always check the final wording and the scope of the ban in the text of the article on EUR-Lex, including definitions and cut-off dates.
Which annexes you read most often
In an exporter practice a few annexes of 833/2014 keep coming back. Annex XVII (Article 3g) covers articles of iron and steel, for example headings 7207, 7208, 7304 or 7306. Annex XXIII (Article 3k) covers a broad list of goods that strengthen Russian industry, from machinery to electronics, for example 8471 (automatic data-processing machines) or 8537. Annex XVIII (Article 3h) concerns luxury goods above a value threshold.
On the energy and commodity side, what matters includes crude oil and oil products from headings 2709 and 2710, and gold from heading 7108. You always check which annex your code appears in and which article attaches the ban to it, because it is the article, not the annex alone, that defines the direction and the exceptions.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know which article relates to a given annex?
Each annex is cited in the text of a specific article, for example Annex XVII in Article 3g, and Annex XXIII in Article 3k. The article sets the direction of the ban, the cut-off dates and the exceptions, which is why after finding a code in an annex you always read the related article.
Are the CN code and the HS code the same?
Not entirely. The first six digits of the CN code come from the Harmonised System (HS) and are the same worldwide. The CN code adds two digits of EU extension, so it has eight digits.
What does it mean when an annex lists only a 4-digit heading?
That the ban covers the whole heading, that is all detailed codes beginning with those four digits. This is the prefix rule. Your full code is covered if it begins with the listed heading.
Where do I find the annexes themselves?
In the consolidated version of Regulation 833/2014 on EUR-Lex. The annexes are an integral part of the act and are updated with each new sanctions package.
Can one code appear in several annexes?
Yes. The same goods may be subject to different measures in different annexes or regimes. That is why it is worth checking all matches, not just the first one.
More in the knowledge base
- How to check whether goods are subject to EU sanctions, step by step
- Exemptions and derogations in the sanctions against Russia, when trade is allowed
- Goods sanctions vs screening of persons and entities, how they differ
- Exporter obligations after the 2025 amendment (end-user statement)
- Penalties for breaching sanctions in Poland (up to PLN 20 million)
- The most commonly checked CN codes covered by EU sanctions against Russia
- CBAM versus EU sanctions, how they differ and why you check both
Informational content based on EU regulations (833/2014, 765/2006) and the act of 13 April 2022 (Journal of Laws 2022 item 835). It does not constitute legal or customs advice. The binding source is the text of the act in EUR-Lex and the decision of the customs authorities. In case of doubt, consult an adviser.