The European Commission’s Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) Regulation entered into force on July 1, 2009. It requires that the economic operator’s EORI number be included as an identifier every time it undertakes a transaction with national customs administrations in the EU. 

Some EU Member States have had difficulties in implementing the EORI Regulation. Consequently, the Commission clarified to the EU Member States that they, pending resolution of these difficulties, should not strictly enforce the requirement that the EORI number be included in all customs transactions. 

We have received confirmation from the European Commission that this period of flexible enforcement of the EORI number requirement is coming to an end.  In the attached letter, the Commission informs the EU Member States that the EORI Regulation is to be fully enforced as of July 1, 2010. 

As of this date, the EORI number must be included whenever an economic operator undertakes a transaction with national customs administrations in the EU.  Failure to include the EORI number may result in e.g. delay of customs clearance, and could also lead to the issue of penalties pursuant to national customs legislation.

What Does This mean for OOCL and its Customers in the UK and Ireland?

• From July 1, 2010, customs declarations lodged by customers should include the appropriate EORI
   
• For customs declarations lodged by OOCL on a customer's behalf, we will need the appropriate EORI
   
• OOCL is asking all customers to assist us over this transition period and help us avoid shipment delays caused by missing references. Accordingly we invite you to provide us with your EORI by sending an email to VERIFUKR

We thank you in advance for your co-operation.

Should you have any questions on the above please contact your country's local customs authority, OOCL Customer Service Centre or Area Sales Manager.