Economic Operators Registration and Identification System (EORI)

A new system for customs clearance was introduced in the European Union in 2009: the European Registration and Identification System (EORI).

A unique, seventeen-digit identifier enables specific identification of all economic operators in the European Union. The identifier is made up of a short country code and an alphanumeric sequence of digits.

These EORI identification numbers are a prerequisite for customs clearance in the European Union. The stored master data of the individual economic operator is electronically communicated to the European Commission with this number and through the corresponding system. It is additionally stored in a central EU database in order to call up the available data via an information system available over the internet.

All companies and persons active in cross-border foreign trade must apply for this number themselves with the responsible national authorities.

In Germany and Austria, this European Registration and Identification System for economic operators was introduced in November 2009. The EORI ID has been required across all of Europe since January 2010.

Thus all customs clearance within the German ATLAS customs systems since 10.03.2012 is no longer possible for any economic operators without a valid EORI identification number. For German customs participants the EORI identification number can be applied for in Dresden with the following authority:

IWM – Informations- und Wissensmanagement der Deutschen Zollbehörden (Information and Knowledge Management for the German Customs Authorities)
Central Information Desk
Telephone: +49 (0)351 44834-540
Email: info.eori@zoll·de
Telefax: +49 (0)351 44834-590

Link: https://www.zoll.de/EN/Businesses/Movement-of-goods/Import/Duties-and-taxes/EORI-number/Requesting-EORI-number-amending-operator-particulars/requesting-eori-number-amending-operator-particulars.html