EORI numbers for imports to Germany and EU customs clearance

The customs clearance registration obligation for commercial operators came into force in November 2009. All companies with a German Customs number received a written request to apply for an EORI (Economic Operators‘ Registration and Identification System) identification number.

The special German regulation which exempted commercial operators that only registered with customs twice or three times per year from applying for a customs number was repealed on 01.01.2010.

This means that, since 01.01.2010, all commercial operators engaging in activities covered by customs law have had to have an EORI number:

• declarants
• representatives of declarants
• receivers of imports
• deliverers/exporters when delivering/exporting
• subcontractors as understood in Art. 789 ZK-DVO (Customs Code Executive Order)
• principals

This regulation also applies to Swiss operators with customs obligations, but only if they are declarants! Swiss deliverers that only export goods and do not engage in any other activities covered by customs law are not affected by this.

If a customs application is submitted without the necessary EORI number, the customs office will require the registrant to apply for, or arrange an application for, the necessary EORI number before the goods are submitted. In this case, the declarant (or relevant commercial operator) must submit a copy of the application to the customs office; and when it has received the EORI number, the declarant must also submit the latter without any further request from the customs office. The goods cannot be discharged by customs until then!

You can use the following link to request an EORI number application electronically (Form 0870 – 2 pages):

http://www.zoll.de/e0_downloads/b0_vordrucke/a0_vordruckgesamtliste/index.php

ATLAS, the German Customs system, is currently not yet capable of receiving EORI numbers for import declarations. Hence this regulation does not apply to all customs offices on the Swiss border.

The new ATLAS software release will be put into operation in summer 2010.

On 1.7.2010 the regulation described above will come into force and be implemented with immediate effect by the German Customs Agency.

The submission of EORI numbers will also be obligatory in other EU Member States as of this date. It will be applicable primarily to EU customs clearance. So the appropriate EORI number must be submitted at the German border for all EU receivers of goods imports according to Process 4200.

You can find further information at:

http://www.zoll.de/faq/faq_eori/index.html