UN/EDIFACT
UN/EDIFACT is the international EDI standard, common across Europe and global trade lanes, especially in automotive and manufacturing supply chains.
Maintained by
United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT)
Envelope structure
UNB/UNZ (interchange), UNH/UNT (message)
Primary regions
Global, especially Europe
Transactions under UN/EDIFACT
Purchase Order Message
UN/EDIFACT ORDERS is the international equivalent of the X12 850 — a structured purchase order used widely across Europe and global trade lanes.
Purchase Order Response Message
UN/EDIFACT ORDRSP is the supplier's response to an ORDERS message, confirming, amending, or rejecting the purchase order — the EDIFACT counterpart to the X12 855.
Despatch Advice Message
UN/EDIFACT DESADV is the international equivalent of the X12 856 Advance Ship Notice, describing what was shipped and how it is packed.
Receiving Advice Message
UN/EDIFACT RECADV reports what a buyer actually received at their dock, allowing the supplier to reconcile shipped versus received quantities.
Invoice Message
UN/EDIFACT INVOIC is the electronic invoice message, the EDIFACT counterpart to the X12 810, used to bill for goods or services delivered.
Instruction Message
UN/EDIFACT IFTMIN conveys transport instructions from a shipper or forwarder to a carrier, specifying what needs to be moved, how, and by when.
International Multimodal Status Report Message
UN/EDIFACT IFTSTA reports shipment status and milestones across a transport chain, the EDIFACT counterpart to the X12 214.
Forwarding and Consolidation Summary Message
UN/EDIFACT IFCSUM summarizes consolidated shipments — multiple individual consignments grouped into a single transport unit — for freight forwarders.
Customs Declaration Message
UN/EDIFACT CUSDEC is used to submit customs declarations for imported or exported goods to a customs authority.