As you are aware, doing business between the UK and the EU is evolving and many changes have already been happened, others are yet to be fully implemented. To help you prepare for some of the upcoming changes we’d like to explain a little about EORI numbers (Economic Operator Registration and Identification), and what they mean to you when shipping any exhibition assets, stands or demonstration equipment for EU events.
What is an EORI number?
UK and EU Customs regulations say that ANY and ALL shipments travelling between businesses, between the UK and any EU country must carry the appropriate EORI numbers for identification.
EORI numbers are basically an easy identification number for customs authorities on both sides of the shipping, and using them makes the customs clearance process much quicker and more efficient.
Increasingly we are seeing clients experience long delays on processing and delivery into the EU when EORI numbers have not been used. You can reduce the risk of major delays by taking steps now!
Every business, or self-employed individual requires their own EORI number. When sending goods overseas, the paperwork will ALSO require the EORI number for the receiving partner.
This is not a new regulation, but it is one which is being enforced MUCH more strictly now by many EU countries.
Some examples…
An example: If a UK business is sending a shipment to another business in Germany, the paperwork MUST carry both the EORI number for the sending business and also for the receiving business. This is the same for temporary imports for items such as your exhibition stand or other show assets.
If this same business was exhibiting at an trade show in France, and needed to ship their stand & demo equipment out to an advance warehouse, the paperwork would need to carry their UK EORI number, but they would ALSO have to have their own EORI number for the destination country. As they are, in effect, sending the shipment to themselves, care of the advance warehouse.
Each country in Europe has their own EORI system, you will require a separate EORI number for each country you send your work to. If as an artist or gallery you send works to Spain, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy etc. you should IDEALLY register with each of those countries own separate EORI systems to obtain your own EORI numbers for those destinations.
However, it should be acknowledged that in some EU countries the rules are not as strictly enforced as in others. Some EU countries will allow entry with an EU EORI from ANY member state as a minimum requirement for customs clearance. Unfortunately this is a moveable target so what worked yesterday for a certain country cannot be guaranteed to work next month.
Have you got your EORI Number?
If you or your business does not already have one of these, you will need to apply online HERE.
Some good news?
Sending your work further overseas? The good news is that none of this applies if sending anywhere except the EU! For the Americas, Asia, Africa & Oceania – it’s business as usual!
There are more EU changes ahead, but we are always on hand to help with advice or assistance however we can.
You can get in touch by phone on 0203 780 0666 or email me here.
Contact us :
UK Office: info@ebissco.uk | Tel 0203 788 0666
USA Office: info@ebiss-usa.com | Tel: +1 815-733-1090
