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EDIFACT message guide · Finance

DOCARE Response to an amendment of a documentary credit

The UN/EDIFACT message a beneficiary uses to accept or refuse an amendment to a documentary credit.

Sent by
Beneficiary (usually the exporter)
Received by
Banks and parties involved in the documentary credit
Standard
UN/EDIFACT · Batch message
X12 equivalent
No direct equivalent

What is the EDIFACT DOCARE message?

DOCARE is the UN/EDIFACT response to an amendment of a documentary credit. The directory defines it as a message originated by the beneficiary and sent to the parties involved in the documentary credit, advising acceptance or non-acceptance of an amendment.

Under the usual rules for documentary credits, an amendment does not bind the beneficiary until it accepts it. Sending the response explicitly removes uncertainty about which terms apply when the exporter presents its documents. A clear response also tells the advising and issuing banks which terms they must check the presented documents against.

How the EDIFACT DOCARE message worksDiagram of the UN/EDIFACT DOCARE Response to an amendment of a documentary credit message. Beneficiary (usually the exporter) sends it to banks and parties involved in the documentary credit. It usually follows DOCAMA. Inside the UNB and UNH envelopes, the directory D.21A requires, in the start of message: BGM (Beginning of message) and RFF (Reference) and body and segment groups: the required SG1 loop with FII (Financial institution information) and the required SG2 loop with NAD (Name and address). 1 conditional segment groups are listed by their trigger segment.How the EDIFACT DOCARE message worksResponse to an amendment of a documentary credit: who sends it, where it fits and what the directory marksmandatory1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSDOCAMAAdvice of anamendment of adocumentary creditDOCARESENDERBeneficiary (usuallythe exporter)RECEIVERBanks and partiesinvolved in thedocumentary creditCONTRL syntax report back, if agreedUSUALLY FOLLOWED BYNo business reply expected2 WHAT DIRECTORY D.21A REQUIRESInterchange: sender and recipient IDsUNB … UNZMessage DOCAREUNH … UNTSTART OF MESSAGEBGMBeginning of messageRFFReferenceBODY AND SEGMENT GROUPSMandatory group SG1 · repeats up to 5FIIFinancial institution informationMandatory group SG2 · repeats up to 9NADName and address+ 1 conditional group, starting with:AUTBlue box: mandatory segment group. Conditional groups are listed by the trigger segment that starts them; a group is sent only when its data applies.Conditional segments outside groups are not drawn.Structure: mandatory segments and groups in the UN/EDIFACT directory D.21A listing for DOCARE. Your trading partner's implementation guide adds itsown requirements.
How the EDIFACT DOCARE message worksDiagram of the UN/EDIFACT DOCARE Response to an amendment of a documentary credit message. Beneficiary (usually the exporter) sends it to banks and parties involved in the documentary credit. It usually follows DOCAMA. Inside the UNB and UNH envelopes, the directory D.21A requires, in the start of message: BGM (Beginning of message) and RFF (Reference) and body and segment groups: the required SG1 loop with FII (Financial institution information) and the required SG2 loop with NAD (Name and address). 1 conditional segment groups are listed by their trigger segment.How the EDIFACT DOCAREmessage worksResponse to an amendment of a documentarycredit: who sends it, where it fits and what thedirectory marks mandatory1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSDOCAMAAdvice of an amendment of adocumentary creditDOCARESENDERBeneficiary(usually theexporter)RECEIVERBanks andparties involvedin thedocumentarycreditCONTRL syntax report back, if agreedUSUALLY FOLLOWED BYNo business reply expected2 WHAT DIRECTORY D.21A REQUIRESInterchange: sender and recipient IDs(UNB … UNZ)Message DOCARE (UNH … UNT)START OF MESSAGEBGMBeginning of messageRFFReferenceBODY AND SEGMENT GROUPSMandatory group SG1 · repeats upto 5FIIFinancial institutioninformationMandatory group SG2 · repeats upto 9NADName and address+ 1 conditional group, starting with:AUTBlue box: mandatory segment group. Conditionalgroups are listed by the trigger segment thatstarts them; a group is sent only when its dataapplies. Conditional segments outside groups arenot drawn.Structure: mandatory segments and groups in theUN/EDIFACT directory D.21A listing for DOCARE.Your trading partner's implementation guide adds itsown requirements.

How to read this diagram: the top row shows who sends DOCARE, to whom, and which messages usually come before and after it. The lower part shows what the directory D.21A itself requires: the envelopes around DOCARE and the segments and segment groups it marks mandatory. Conditional groups are listed by their trigger segment rather than drawn in full. This is the directory's minimum, not a trading partner's requirement: a message implementation guide, such as an industry subset or a partner’s own guide, usually makes some conditional groups mandatory, restricts the codes and may use an older directory.

Expand diagram Download SVG

When it is used

  • Accepting an amendment to a letter of credit
  • Refusing an amendment
  • Confirming which terms apply before presentation

Where it fits in the message flow

Usually follows DOCAMA Advice of an amendment of a documentary credit
This message DOCARE Response to an amendment of a documentary credit

Structure

Mandatory segments in DOCARE (directory D.21A)

In UN/EDIFACT directory D.21A, the DOCARE message has 15 segment positions arranged in 3 segment groups. These are the segments and segment groups marked mandatory at message level, in order; a mandatory group is shown with the segment that starts it. Segments inside conditional groups are needed only when the group is used. This is the directory’s requirement, not your trading partner’s: each partner’s message implementation guide names the directory it uses, often an older one such as D.96A or D.01B where the structure can differ, makes some conditional segments mandatory and restricts the codes.

  • UNH
  • BGM
  • RFF
  • SG1 (FII)
  • SG2 (NAD)
  • UNT

Practical example

DOCARE in practice

After review, an exporter accepts an amendment extending its shipment date. Its trade finance system sends a DOCARE accepting the amendment, referencing the credit and amendment numbers. The banks update their records, and the exporter prepares documents to the amended terms.

Implementation

Implementation considerations for DOCARE

  • Reference the credit and amendment numbers exactly.
  • Respond to every amendment, not just accepted ones.
  • Keep internal records of which terms apply.
  • Follow the applicable ICC rules for amendments.

How ECOM helps

Automate DOCARE with ECOM

Industry

Financial Services

Secure file transfer and B2B integration for banks and financial institutions.

Solution

Financial Document Automation

Automate invoices, remittances, payment files and bank statements from capture to posting.

Industry

Industrial Manufacturing

Distributor, OEM customer and supplier integration for industrial manufacturers.

Compare X12 and EDIFACT, or see answers to general questions in the EDI FAQ.

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