EAS (Electronic Address Scheme)

The EAS is the EN 16931 code list that states the type of a party's electronic address.

Definition

The EAS (Electronic Address Scheme) is a code list associated with the European standard EN 16931. It qualifies a party's electronic address (the endpoint) on an invoice — that is, it states what kind of identifier it is.

On the invoice, the scheme applies notably to the seller's electronic address (BT-34) and the buyer's electronic address (BT-49).

Role

An electronic address is only usable if you know how to interpret it. The EAS provides that key:

• it states whether the endpoint is a GS1 GLN, a national legal number (for example a SIRET), a DUNS identifier, a network address, and so on;
• it ensures the recipient is routed unambiguously to the correct delivery point.

Many EAS values build on the ISO 6523 designators, keeping them consistent with the other code lists.

Good to know

The EAS is maintained as part of the official EN 16931 code lists and widely reused by exchange networks such as PEPPOL for routing documents.

Filling in the EAS correctly is essential: a correct but mis-qualified electronic address can prevent the invoice from being delivered.