ISO 25500-120:2026

• Abstract:

  To verify data in support of local purchasing, this document specifies the requirements for formatting request types (resolve and search) and replies to those requests. The following are within the scope of this document: the syntax requirements and application protocol interface (API) for a request and response to a request for a harmonized system (HS) code formatted in accordance with ISO 8000-115 and the dataset of an item that includes the characteristic data necessary to verify the HS code assigned to the item (resolve); the syntax requirements and API for a request and response to a request to verify the international facility identifier(s) for the origin of an item given an item identifier formatted in accordance with ISO 8000-115 (search); the methods used to capture the data required to determine the location of manufacturer or provision of services. The following are outside the scope of this document: the methods used for the resolution of ISO 8000-115 identifier to the ISO 8000-114 data set.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 03-Nov-2026
• ICS: 35.240.63 - IT applications in trade
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 184/SC 5 - Interoperability, integration, and architectures for enterprise systems and automation applications
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 04-Nov-2026
• Completion Date: 04-Nov-2026

ISO 25500-120 is an ISO standard for supply chain interoperability and integration. ISO 25500-120 specifies how to format requests and replies for verifying data used in support of local purchasing, using ISO 8000-114 formatted data and ISO 8000-115 formatted identifiers. It is aimed at organizations that need to verify item origin, HS codes, and facility identity through a controlled data exchange.

What does ISO 25500-120 specify?

ISO 25500-120 specifies the request and reply formats, the application interface protocol, and the supporting terminology for verifying data used in local purchasing. In practice, the standard is about two exchange patterns - resolving an item to HS code data, and searching for international facility identifier (IFI) data linked to item origin.

The document scope covers:

• terms related to local purchasing and the verification data set
• syntax requirements and API rules for a request and response to resolve an item identifier to an HS code
• syntax requirements and API rules for a request and response to search for IFI data linked to item origin
• methods used to capture the data needed to determine where a manufacturer is located or where services are provided

ISO 25500-120 excludes the methods used to resolve an ISO 8000-115 identifier to the ISO 8000-114 data set. That matters because the standard focuses on request and response handling, not on the separate resolution mechanism behind the data set itself.

The document is organized into clauses on scope, normative references, terms and definitions, item origin resolution and search processes, and conformance. Annex A is informative and provides document identification.

What are the key requirements of ISO 25500-120?

ISO 25500-120 sets out two verification workflows: resolve an item to HS code data, and search for IFI data for the item’s origin. Both workflows use registered ISO 8000-115 prefixes and exchange messages through a prefix name server (PNS), which helps route requests while keeping electronic address information confidential.

Resolve item identifier to item HS code

Clause 4.2 requires a request to include the registered ISO 8000-115 prefix of the requestor, the registered ISO 8000-115 prefix of the respondent, the ISO 8000-115 formatted item identifier, and the HS code table prefix in ISO 8000-115 format. In practice, this gives the recipient enough context to identify the item and the target code table.

Clause 4.2.2 requires the reply to be in ISO 8000-114 format and to include the HS code in ISO 8000-115 format, with the prefix identifying the HS code table, plus the characteristic data needed to verify the assigned HS code. The reply can report syntax error, data error, request denied, timed out, or data (in idf). That matters because systems need to handle both successful verification and operational failure in a predictable way.

Search item origin data

Clause 4.3 requires a request to include the registered ISO 8000-115 prefix of the requestor, the registered ISO 8000-115 prefix of the respondent, and the ISO 8000-115 formatted item identifier for the facility search. This lets a system ask where an item originates without exposing unnecessary addressing details.

Clause 4.3.2 requires the reply to return one or more IFI values, or one of the same message outcomes used for errors or refusal: syntax error, data error, request denied, or timed out. In practice, this is the output that supports local purchasing checks on origin.

Conformance

Clause 5 ties conformance to applying the request and reply requirements in clauses 4.2 and 4.3. For implementers, that means both workflows and their message handling need to be followed together.

What terms does ISO 25500-120 define?

ISO 25500-120 uses the terms and definitions from ISO 25500-2, and several key abbreviations are central to the document.

• Local purchasing - purchasing influenced by requirements to source goods or services from local suppliers or specific supplier categories.
• Harmonized System (HS) code - the international item classification used here to verify an item’s trade code.
• International facility identifier (IFI) - an identifier for the facility linked to item origin, built from the legal entity and the natural location.
• Prefix name server (PNS) - the routing mechanism that uses registered prefixes to direct requests and replies.
• Application interface protocol (API) - the structured exchange rules for the request and reply messages.
• International business registration number (IBRN) - the legal entity identifier used in forming the IFI.
• Natural location identifier (NLI) - the facility location identifier used in forming the IFI.
• Requestor and respondent - the parties sending and receiving the verification exchange.

Who uses ISO 25500-120?

ISO 25500-120 is for organizations that verify origin and trade data in supply chains, especially where local purchasing rules matter. That includes buyers, supply chain managers, compliance teams, and system integrators who need to exchange verified item data with counterparties.

It is also relevant to manufacturers, service providers, and trading partners that must respond to requests about HS code assignment or origin facilities. The document’s use of PNS routing and registered prefixes makes it relevant to secure machine-to-machine data exchange.

Which standards are used with ISO 25500-120?

ISO 25500-120 normatively references ISO 8000-114, ISO 8000-115, and ISO 25500-2.

• ISO 8000-114 supplies the portable data format used for replies.
• ISO 8000-115 supplies the syntactic, semantic, and resolution rules for the identifiers used in requests and replies.
• ISO 25500-2 supplies the vocabulary used throughout the document.

The introduction and bibliography also name related standards and documents that support the model used here, including ISO 25500-1, ISO 25500-100, ISO 8000-116, ISO 8000-118, ISO/IEC 8824-1, and ISO 10303-1.

What does the ISO 25500-120 document contain?

ISO 25500-120 contains the message structure for two verification services, the status outcomes that a reply can return, and the use of a PNS to route exchanges through registered prefixes. Clause 4 also explains the practical split between verifying HS code data and searching for IFI data linked to item origin.

Annex A provides an informative document identifier as an object identifier for open information systems. The bibliography points readers to related ISO, WTO, and WCO material used to frame the local purchasing and origin context.

International
Standard
ISO 25500-120
First edition
Supply chain interoperability and
2026-11
integration —
Part 120:
Verification of data in support of
local purchasing
Interopérabilité et intégration dans la chaîne
d'approvisionnement —
Partie 120: Vérification des données à l'appui de la localisation
d'achat
Reference number
© ISO 2026
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ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Item origin: resolution and search processes . 2
4.1 General .2
4.2 Resolve item identifier to origin data: request and reply for the item HS code .2
4.2.1 Request to resolve an item identifier to the item’s HS .2
4.2.2 Reply to request to resolve an item identifier to the item’s HS .2
4.3 Search item origin data: request and reply for international facility identifier .2
4.3.1 Request to search for IFI where item originates given item’s ISO 8000-115
identifier .2
4.3.2 Reply to request to search for IFI where item originates given item’s ISO 8000-
115 identifier .3
5 Conformance . 3
Annex A (informative) Document identification . 4
Bibliography . 5

iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 184, Automation systems and integration,
Subcommittee SC 5, Interoperability, integration, and architectures for enterprise systems and automation
applications.
A list of all parts in the ISO 25500 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
Introduction
At its most basic, labour and materials come together at a facility to create products and waste as illustrated
in Figure 1.
Figure 1 — Basic production process
For materials, products, or services to be legally exchanged, they must be identified and described. In
addition, for the purposes of supply chain management, the physical location of the origin of materials or
products and the performance of services and the location of the legal entity controlling the production
or distribution process both need to be taken into consideration. This is enabled by an international
facility identifier (IFI) that captures both by combining the ISO 8000-116 formatted international business
registration number (IBRN) of the legal entity responsible for the operation of the facility, followed by a pipe
character (U+0007C) as a separator, and then the ISO 8000-118 formatted natural location identifier (NLI)
of the facility. The ISO 8000-115 prefix for this identifier is ISO.IFI which is then followed by a colon and the
IFI.
Location is important in respect to compliance with government regulations but also to insurance and local
taxation. Insurance relies on location to determine liability. For example, in the case of a pallet being moved
from a warehouse into a waiting truck, the threshold of the loading dock is the point of demarcation: when
the pallet crosses the point of demarcation legal liability for damage to the content of the pallet is transferred
from the insurer of warehouse to the insurer of the truck.
The best practice in purchasing is to buy an item at the lowest total cost including taxes, fees, and
transportation. There are many other and frequently competing factors that need to be taken into
consideration in creating a cost effective and resilient supply chain that minimizes the short term or
longer-term risks associated with the potential for supply chain disruption. One of these considerations
is government local purchasing requirements. As part of their economic development or security
strategies, many governments seek to encourage the sourcing of goods and services from local suppliers
and occasionally from specific socioeconomic categories of suppliers (small business, minority, women or
veteran owned businesses). Governments can also control or influence international purchasing through
the imposition of sanctions, tariffs and quotas as well as non-tariff barriers that can be applied not only to
countries but also to specific geographic regions or to specific suppliers.
Global trade is regulated through multilateral trade agreements. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
(GATT) provided the rules for much of world trade from 1948 to 1994 and the World Trade Organization
(WTO), created on 1995-01-01, expanded the GATT that mainly dealt with trade in goods, to cover trade in
services and intellectual property.
There are two concepts that are central to the WTO: first, the country of origin and, secondly, the World
Customs Organization (WCO) harmonized system (HS) codes.
a) Rules of origin: Country
...