News

JANUARY 2019

THE “EORI” (ECONOMIC OPERATORS REGISTRATION AND IDENTIFICATION) NUMBER – HOW TO OBTAIN IT.

EORI stands for “Economic Operators Registration and Identification number” and has been mandatory since the 1st of  July 2009 according to the the ‘Safety and Security Amendment’ to the Community Customs Code. It is a single registration number for economic operators that is necessary for customs activities across the European Union. This number is supposed to be positive for both, economic operators and customs officers, because it enables administrative tasks making procedures simpler, as well as it plays a role in identifying security risks and streamline procedures. It is said to be more efficient to have one common type of identification number across the EU, both for customs authorities and economic operators.

This number is usually automatically given to Spanish operators. It is not automatically given to foreign companies, to entities without legal personality or to non resident companies, whose tax identification numbers begin with M/X/Y, N y W. These companies need to request by written their wish to be registered addressed to “Dependencia Provincial de Aduanas” or the corresponding tax authority or digitally, through “la Sede Electrónica de la AEAT – ADUANAS”. After requesting the EORI Number, another request to link this Number with the NIF number of the company will also be necessary.

The EORI Number is not given to companies who already have it or were given it by another European Community State.

THE EORI NUMBER: WHAT FOR?

The EORI Number is necessary for any economic operator established in the customs territory of the European Union wishing to trade and also for economic operators not established in the customs territory of the Union for all the following situations:

• To lodge a customs declaration in the customs territory of the Union;
• To submit an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS)
• To lodge an Exit Summary Declaration (EXS)
• To lodge a temporary storage declaration in the customs territory of the Union
• To act as a carrier for the purposes of transport by sea, inland waterway or air;
• To act as a carrier who is connected to the customs system and wishes to receive any of the notifications provided for in the customs legislation regarding the lodging or amendment of entry summary declarations.

Persons other than economic operators shall be registered in following situations:

• where such registration is required by the national legislation of a Member State;
• where the person engages in operations for which an EORI number must be provided according to the EU customs legislation.

WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE REQUESTED TO CARRIERS BY SEA?

• A Security Declaration for the Authorized Economic Operators, which is basically a declaration on the security / safety conditions of the goods being transported.
• This Security Declaration of OEA form needs to be signed by the person that is registered as authorized to represent the company before the BVI Authorities.
• An Application Form
• A copy of the passport for natural persons or a document of the trade register of the Chamber of Commerce or
• Certified copy of an official document displaying identification data that has been issued by the trade register authorities or a Chamber of Commerce in the third country, like for example, the Certificate of Incorporation and Incumbency. The document may not be older than six months.

TO WHICH AUTHORITY CAN IT BE REQUESTED?

The EORI number can be obtained by requesting the assignment of the EORI number to the customs authorities of the EU country in which they are established, by those established in the customs territory of the Union.

For those not established in the customs territory of the Community, the assignment of the EORI number should be requested to the customs authorities of the EU country responsible for the place where they first lodge a declaration or apply for a decision.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO OBTAIN IT?

After requesting it and being assigned by the Tax Agency, approximately 48 hours later the EORI number is activated and cargo can be traded.

If you are an operator in any of the above described situations, feel free to contact us in order to obtain an EORI Number or to obtain help in linking your EORI Number with your NIF, or any other procedure you might need to legally operate in the European Union.