The Economic Operator Identification and Registration (EORI) number is allocated by the competent customs authorities of the EU Member States to economic operators involved in transactions governed by customs legislation in the course of their business.

Once an economic operator obtains an EORI number, he shall use it as a unique identification number in all his dealings with the customs authorities of all Member States, such as:

• pre-arrival and pre-departure reporting of goods entering or leaving the customs territory of the EU
• the procedure for import and release for free circulation, export and transit

In addition, the EORI number is used by customs authorities when exchanging information on the movement of goods.