On 1 July 2009, the Economic Operators Registration and Identification System (EORI) was introduced in all EU Member States for identification of economic operators as regards their customs related activities. Economic operators engaged in foreign trade who register themselves in the EORI system are given unique identification numbers (EORI numbers), which will be forwarded to the EORI central database.

The use of an EORI number enabling to identify economic operators within the entire EU customs territory became mandatory for all economic operators engaged in import or export of goods, transit transportations or when performing other customs related activities.