TN VED EAEU: 13,293 Product Codes in One Table! Does OpenCart Need an API?

Working with TN VED EAEU commodity codes is a common challenge for businesses involved in importing goods, managing product catalogs, and developing e-commerce solutions. When a catalog contains hundreds or thousands of products, finding the correct code manually can be time-consuming. When the same reference data is used across multiple projects, another question arises: how can the data be kept up to date and product classification workflows be automated?

We have prepared a CSV table containing 13,293 unique ten-digit TN VED codes and their corresponding product descriptions. The file uses UTF-8 encoding and can be opened in a spreadsheet application or processed programmatically.

However, the table itself is only the starting point. For TNVED Finder PRO, an OpenCart module, a more flexible approach would be to store the reference data locally, provide a mechanism for updating it, and optionally integrate with an external API.

Let's explore the available options, compare local databases with API-based solutions, and determine whether API integration is worth implementing in the module.

What Is TN VED EAEU, and Why Is a Code Reference Database Useful?

TN VED EAEU is the Commodity Nomenclature of Foreign Economic Activity of the Eurasian Economic Union. It is used to classify goods in the context of foreign trade.

A TN VED code identifies a commodity classification entry according to the applicable nomenclature. Selecting the correct code may depend not only on the product's commercial name but also on its characteristics, intended use, composition, and other classification criteria.

For this reason, finding a code is not simply a matter of searching for a similar product name in a spreadsheet. Additional product information and the applicable classification rules may be necessary to determine the correct code.

For online retailers and software developers, a structured reference database is useful as a foundation for search, data matching, and automation.

13,293 TN VED Codes in One Table

We have prepared a CSV file containing 13,293 unique ten-digit codes and their corresponding product descriptions.

The table contains two main columns:

  • code — the ten-digit TN VED code;

  • name — the corresponding commodity description.

The file is encoded in UTF-8. It can be opened in Excel or another compatible spreadsheet application, imported into a database, or processed programmatically.

What Can You Do with This Table?

1. Search by code. If a code is already known, the reference table can help find its corresponding description.

2. Search by product name. The data can serve as a basis for text search, filtering, and matching commodity entries.

3. Prepare an OpenCart import. The reference data can be transformed into a structure suitable for storage and use inside an OpenCart module.

4. Build a local search database. Instead of contacting an external service for every search, the module can retrieve data directly from its local database.

5. Automate product catalog processing. With an appropriate matching algorithm, the reference data can support preliminary product-to-code matching.

One important qualification: 13,293 is the number of entries in the prepared file. This figure does not, by itself, establish that the file contains every currently valid code or that every entry reflects the latest official nomenclature. Before using a code for customs declarations, verify it against authoritative, up-to-date sources.

TNVED Finder PRO: Is a Local Database Enough?

If the module's primary purpose is to let users search for codes by number or description, a local database may be sufficient.

For example, the module could store codes and descriptions in a dedicated MySQL table and perform searches within OpenCart. In that setup, queries are processed directly by the online store's server.

This approach offers several advantages.

Fast Search Without External Requests

Local database searches do not require a request to a third-party service every time a user searches. This reduces dependence on external network latency and service availability.

Predictable Operation

If an external service becomes temporarily unavailable, searches against the already imported reference data can continue working.

This is especially useful for administrative tools that store employees use regularly.

Control Over the Data

The developer controls the database structure, indexes, search rules, and presentation of results.

Depending on the available data, the module could support exact code lookup, partial matches, product-name searches, and other filtering options.

No Mandatory API Request for Every Search

A local search does not require continuous communication with an external service. However, this does not automatically make the reference data current: updates still need to be managed separately.

Why Integrate an API at All?

The main limitation of a local reference database is the need to keep it up to date.

Once the data has been imported into OpenCart, it will not automatically change when the source nomenclature is updated. The developer must either import a new version manually or implement an update mechanism.

This is where an API may become useful.

An API is an interface that allows one service to retrieve data from another service according to defined rules.

The TKS TN VED API documentation describes several ways to interact with TN VED data:

  • retrieving information about a specific ten-digit code;

  • retrieving a list of codes;

  • checking the reference database version;

  • downloading an archive containing the reference data.

Access requires a client key. The documentation also describes restrictions that may apply to request frequency. Before using the API in a commercial product, you should verify the access terms, pricing, and permitted use cases.

What API Features Could Be Implemented in the Module?

Reference database updates. The module could check the remote database version and download a new archive when an update becomes available, then update its local database.

Retrieving additional information. If the external provider supplies the required data and the access terms permit it, the module could retrieve additional information about a specific code.

Reducing manual work. Automated updates could eliminate the need to upload reference files manually, provided that the source supports the workflow and the synchronization process is implemented correctly.

Expanding the product's capabilities. Additional information about commodity entries could be incorporated in the future if it is genuinely available through the selected API and covered by its access terms.

It is important not to confuse reference lookup with full commodity classification. The existence of an API does not guarantee that the module can automatically determine the correct code for every product.

Local Database vs. API: Which Approach Should You Choose?

Let's consider three possible implementation strategies for TNVED Finder PRO.

Option 1: Local Reference Database Only

The module stores codes and descriptions in its own OpenCart database table.

Advantages:

  • Search does not depend on the availability of an external service.

  • No separate API request is needed for every search.

  • The developer controls the data structure and indexing.

  • Search by code and description can be implemented locally.

Disadvantages:

  • Data freshness depends on the update process.

  • New reference versions must be imported.

  • Additional information cannot be retrieved automatically if it is not included in the local database.

This approach is suitable when the main requirement is searching codes and descriptions.

Option 2: External API Only

When a user searches, the module sends a request to an external service and receives the relevant data in response.

Advantages:

  • The module can retrieve information directly from the external provider.

  • It may not be necessary to maintain a complete local copy of the reference data.

  • Changes made by the provider may be reflected in subsequent API responses.

Disadvantages:

  • Operation depends on the availability of the external service.

  • Search latency depends on network conditions and API response times.

  • API limits, licensing terms, and potential costs must be considered.

  • Without caching, repeated searches may increase request volume and consume the available quota.

  • Changes to the API response format must be handled and tested.

This approach is worth considering when external data is central to the module's functionality and the provider's terms are suitable.

Option 3: Local Database Plus API

In my view, this is the most promising architecture for the further development of TNVED Finder PRO.

The main search function uses the local database. A separate mechanism checks the reference version, retrieves updates, and optionally requests additional information from an external service.

Advantages:

  • Fast local searches.

  • The ability to automate reference database updates.

  • Less dependence on the external API during routine searches.

  • Room to expand functionality without requiring an external request for every search.

Disadvantages:

  • More complex development.

  • Errors during downloads and incompatible data formats must be handled.

  • The update process and local database integrity need to be monitored.

  • API licensing terms and usage restrictions must be respected.

For a module intended to work across different OpenCart stores, this approach provides a useful balance between usability, performance, and future extensibility.

How Should Reference Database Updates Work?

If TNVED Finder PRO gains API integration, it should be implemented as a separate data-update mechanism.

A possible workflow would look like this.

Step 1. Store the Current Version

The module records the version of the reference database currently in use and the date of the last successful update.

Step 2. Check the Remote Version

A scheduled task contacts the API and compares the available version with the version already stored in OpenCart.

Step 3. Download the Update

If a newer version is available, the module downloads the archive or another data format supported by the provider.

Step 4. Validate the Data

Before importing it, the module should check the file structure, required fields, code formats, and whether the complete dataset can be processed.

Step 5. Update the Local Database

Ideally, the module prepares the new reference data first and switches searches to the new version only after validation. This reduces the risk of users encountering partially updated data if an import is interrupted.

Step 6. Record the Result

The administration panel should ideally display:

  • the date of the last successful update;

  • the reference database version;

  • the number of imported records;

  • the update status;

  • relevant error details, if any.

The update frequency should depend on the required level of freshness, the API terms, and how often the source data actually changes. Checking the version can be more frequent than downloading and importing the full archive.

What Should Developers Consider When Building an OpenCart Module?

An integration should account for the server environment, supported OpenCart and PHP versions, and the size of the reference database.

Database structure. A dedicated table with indexes on the code and searchable fields is preferable to mixing reference data with product records.

Scheduled tasks. Updates can be handled through cron or another supported background-processing mechanism. Large archives should not be processed inside an ordinary user request if the operation may take a long time.

Error handling. If the API becomes unavailable, the module should preserve the existing working database and report the failure rather than deleting the reference data before the new version has been validated.

Caching. If the module requests additional information from an external service, caching can reduce repeated requests.

Security. API keys should be stored on the server, kept out of public output, and not exposed to the browser unnecessarily.

Compatibility. The implementation should be tested against the OpenCart and PHP versions supported by the module.

Data usage terms. Before distributing the integration commercially, verify the provider's license, pricing, request limits, and permission to use retrieved data in a distributed software product.

Should API Access Be Mandatory for TNVED Finder PRO?

I would not make an external API mandatory for basic code lookup if the module's primary purpose is searching a local reference database.

A better approach is to separate the functionality into two levels.

Basic functionality — local search. The user installs the module, imports a reference database, and searches codes and descriptions without having to configure an external service.

Advanced functionality — API synchronization. Users who have appropriate access can connect an external data source, configure updates, and use additional features that the selected service actually provides.

This approach makes the module more self-contained. The store can continue searching the imported data even when the external service is temporarily unavailable.

However, automatic updates should not be advertised as an available feature until API access, licensing terms, and the synchronization process have been verified.

Conclusion: Which Approach Should You Choose?

The table containing 13,293 codes is a useful starting point for building local search functionality in OpenCart. But a complete product needs more than an initial import: it also needs a plan for maintaining the reference data.

For TNVED Finder PRO, I recommend the following architecture:

  1. A local database of codes and descriptions.

  2. Search by code and description inside OpenCart.

  3. A separate mechanism for importing and updating the reference data.

  4. Optional integration with an external API, subject to access and licensing checks.

  5. An update log, error monitoring, and preservation of the previous working version.

This design allows the module to handle basic searches without mandatory dependence on an external service while retaining the option to evolve.

Official information about the current nomenclature should be verified against the Eurasian Economic Commission's sources. Commercial APIs can be useful technical tools, but their data, access terms, and intended use must be evaluated separately.

What Do You Think?

Which feature would be more useful in TNVED Finder PRO: simple local search by code and description, or full API integration with automatic reference database updates?

Share your thoughts in the comments. Your feedback can help identify the features that online store owners and OpenCart developers actually need.