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CN code subject to sanctions: what the result means and what to do next
Aggiornato: 5 ottobre 2026
Questa guida è al momento disponibile solo in inglese.
A “subject to restriction” result means the CN code appears in an annex of at least one checked sanctions regime. It is not yet a decision that the shipment may not go ahead, but a signal to read the specific provision, check the derogations and document what was established. Below is the order in which to read the result.
What the result shows
For every match Restrikt gives the regime (for example Russia or Belarus), the annex that lists the code, the article of the regulation that prohibits or restricts trade, the direction (export, import or both) and the date of the consolidated version of the act with a link to EUR-Lex. That date tells you which state of the law the check was made against.
A match may concern the full code or a parent heading your code belongs to. When the match is by prefix or the row data awaits verification, the result is marked “to be verified”. Then compare the description of the goods in the annex with what you actually ship, because a parent heading can be wider than your goods.
Step 1: read the provision, not only the status
The status says “listed in the annex”, but the scope of the ban follows from the article. The same annex may be referred to in several articles with different conditions, for example only for a certain end use or country. Open the article from the link next to the result and check whether it describes your situation: direction, recipient and destination.
If the goods have several possible CN codes, check each of them. A wrong code is the most common cause of a false “no match” and a false hit.
Step 2: check derogations and a pre-ban contract
Below the result there is a “Can I still ship?” block. It lists the derogations in the article in the wording of the provision and asks for the contract date, because some bans have a wind-down period for contracts concluded earlier. Each derogation shows whether it requires authorisation by the competent authority.
When a derogation requires authorisation, Restrikt gives the website of the competent authority for Poland listed in the annex of the relevant regulation. A shipment under such a derogation starts with an application to the authority, not with the assessment in the tool alone.
Step 3: document the check
Whatever the result, keep a record: which code was checked, when, against which version of the act and with what outcome. The check report in Restrikt contains the code, description, regimes, articles, source version date and a timestamp. It belongs in the transaction file and helps answer questions from a counterparty, a bank or an authority.
If you check the same codes regularly, watch them with the Pro plan. You get an email when the data shows a change affecting a watched code, instead of checking it by hand after every package.
When a person is needed
The tool does not decide end use, links of the counterparty to listed persons or whether a specific derogation applies. When the result is “to be verified”, when the shipment goes through a third country or when you want to rely on a derogation, discuss the case with a specialist. A result with the act version date and a report shorten that conversation.
Domande frequenti
Does “subject to restriction” mean the shipment is banned?
Not always. It means the code is in an annex of the regime. The scope of the ban follows from the article, and some bans have derogations or a wind-down period for earlier contracts. That is why you read the provision and the “Can I still ship?” block.
What does the “to be verified” mark mean?
The match was made on a parent heading of the code or the row data awaits verification. Compare the description in the annex with the actual goods and, in case of doubt, have the classification reviewed.
Who grants the authorisation when a derogation requires one?
The competent authority of the Member State. Restrikt shows the website of the competent authority for Poland listed in the annex of the relevant regulation.
Does no match mean it is allowed?
No. No match only means the code does not appear in the annexes of the checked regimes. You still need to check the counterparty against the lists of persons and entities, the end use and any other restrictions.
Altro nella guida
- Sanctions on machinery and machine tools of chapter 84
- CN code and TARIC when checking sanctions
- Penalties for breaching sanctions: what Directive 2024/1226 introduced
- Third countries and diversion of goods to Russia
- Sanctions on car parts: what the 8708 entry actually says
- Article 12gb due diligence step by step
- How to check whether goods are subject to EU sanctions, step by step
- CN code and sanctions: how to read the annexes to Regulation 833/2014
- 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.