Any economic operator established in the EU needs to have an EORI number (Economic Operators Registration and Identification number). Economic operators established outside the EU have to be assigned an EORI number if they lodge a customs declaration, an Entry or an Exit Summary Declaration.
An EORI number means a number, unique throughout the European Community, assigned by a customs authority or designated authority or authorities in a Member State to economic operators. By registering, for customs purposes, in one Member State operators are able to obtain an EORI number that is valid throughout the Community. Obviously, in order to benefit fully from this reform, holders must use the EORI number – once it has been assigned – in all communications with any EC customs authorities where a customs identifier is required.
Customs authorities in the EC must have easy and reliable access to operators’ registration and identification data. In order to ensure this, a central electronic system has been developed for storing data on the registration of economic operators and other persons and for exchanging data on EORI numbers between customs authorities.
