Dear customer,
As part of the 'Safety and Security Amendment' to the (EU) Community Customs Code a single registration number for economic operators that engage in (EU) customs activities will become mandatory as from 1 July 2009. The number is called 'Economic Operators Registration and Identification number' (EORI).
For economic operators EORI should reduce the administrative burden and simplify procedures, and for customs officers it should facilitate the identification of security risks and streamline procedures.
Any economic operator established in the EU needs to have an EORI number. An economic operator established outside the EU will have to be assigned an EORI number if he lodges a customs declaration, an Entry or an Exit Summary Declaration or a Summary Declaration to EU customs.
Moreover, it is irrelevant if the economic operator is a company (legal person) or a natural person. Even an individual engaged in customs-related activities in the EU will need to have a valid registration number, used by one of the Member States as from 1 July 2009. In many cases Economic Operators who already deal with customs authorities in their own EU country will not need to take any action to register. In the majority of EU Member States, the identification number used prior to 1st July 2009 to complete customs formalities will be re-used as an EORI number. Thus, only new operators should register and the application should be sent to the relevant authorities of the Member States in which the economic operator is established (in case of EU economic operators) - see also the Guidelines on EORI .
An economic operator not established in the European Community customs territory also needs to apply for an EORI number if he lodges a customs declaration, an Entry or an Exit Summary Declaration or a Summary Declaration to EU customs. From 1 July 2009 economic operators from non-EU countries will need an EORI number in order to:
· lodge an Entry Summary Declaration or an Exit Summary Declaration
· apply for AEO status (Authorised Economic Operator)
· apply for simplifications in economic procedures.
The list of other possible cases and exclusions is provided in the EORI Guidelines . Economic operators from non-EU countries should apply for an EORI number in the country in which they will carry out the first of the above mentioned cases.
Further information published by the EU on EORI can be found on:
Guidelines: http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/resources/documents/customs/security_amendment/EORI_guidelines_en.pdf
E-Learning course: http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/common/elearning/eori/index_en.htm
Finally, in order to enable OOCL to prepare for the upcoming Advance Manifest requirements for the EU that will become effective December 31st 2010 and requires reporting of manifested parties EORI numbers, we kindly request you to provide us with your EORI number in writing upon receipt from EU authorities.
We trust the above assists in meeting the new EORI requirements.
