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Introduction of the European Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) Number on 30 June 2009

NOTICES TO EXPORTERS - 2009/16 - 17 June 2009

EORI Numbers – Background

  1. An EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number is the new European Union’s unique identification number for use in any electronic communication with Customs.

  2. In the UK, EORI will replace the current Trader Unique Reference Number (TURN) system which will cease to exist at midnight on 30th June 2009. If your organisation does not have a TURN number, and has not been allocated an EORI number, you will need to apply for one from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Impact on Export Control Licences issued by the ECO

  1. Whilst EORI was not introduced for export control purposes, its introduction does have an impact on those who export controlled goods using export licences issued by the Export Control Organisation (ECO). This is because when a licence is issued by ECO, SPIRE sends information about this licence to the HMRC export system – CHIEF - to facilitate the ALV (Automatic Licence Verification) process, and avoid licensed exports being unnecessarily delayed. This information includes the TURN number, so it is important to ensure that TURN numbers are successfully converted into EORI numbers to allow exports to flow freely.

  2. Most existing TURN holders have been automatically allocated an EORI number without the need to apply and have been already notified this by HMRC.

What you have to do as a result

  1. However, from 1st July 2009, SPIRE will start sending the EORI number held against your organisation instead of your TURN, and therefore it is important that you check to ensure the information we hold is correct, as soon as possible. When licences are issued, the EORI held against the registration at the date of licence issue is the one sent to CHIEF.

  2. We have updated SPIRE, the ECO’s licensing database to capture EORI numbers, so if you are a SPIRE Registration Administrator you can check and update the EORI number by logging into SPIRE at https://www.spire.berr.gov.uk then:

    • Click Manage My Registration.
    • Click View/Update next to the registration you want to look at.
    • Clicking Update EORI Number (if you wish to change the number)

  3. You should note that EORI numbers will only be issued to legal entities, not company sites. So if your company posseses more than one TURN number to cover different branches or divisions from which you are operating, you will need to take action to nominate a single EORI number to cover the whole organisation. ECO will be contacting you in due course to explain this in more detail.

Contact Details and Further Information

  1. If you require further assistance with this process please use the contact details
    Email: spire@berr.gov.uk or Phone: 020 7215 4481. The ECO’s main EORI point of contact is Mr Paul Nott.

  2. For further general information about EORI please refer to the HMRC Website – http://www.hmrc.gov.uk - and follow the links from the red box Businesses & Corporations > Imports and Exports > International Trade Developments > EORI.

  3. Finally if you have any general EORI questions which relate to TURN numbers, please email HMRC at: eori.customs&intl@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk including your business name and TURN.

  4. For further details of strategic export controls please contact the ECO.

This notice is for information purposes only and has no force in law. Please note that where legal advice is required exporters should make their own arrangements.

Export Control Organisation

17 June 2009

NTE 200916

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