Glossary
Glossary term

Economic Operators Registration and Identification number (EORI number)

A regulatory term referring to the number assigned by the customs authority when the registration for customs purposes has been carried out in accordan.

2 official sourcesrelated_but_not_identical

What does Economic Operators Registration and Identification number (EORI number) mean?

The EORI number matters because it connects economic operators to customs registration and cross-border administrative workflows. CBAM uses the term directly, while the UCC provides the upstream registration framework behind it.

Official definitions by source

CBAM

Regulation (EU) 2023/956 establishing a carbon border adjustment mechanism

the number assigned by the customs authority when the registration for customs purposes has been carried out in accordance with Article 9 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013;

Reference: Article 3, point 20

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Union Customs Code context

Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 laying down the Union Customs Code

Economic operators established in the customs territory of the Union shall register with the customs authorities responsible for the place where they are established.

Reference: Article 9

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How the definitions differ

Economic Operators Registration and Identification number (EORI number) is a regulatory term used in CBAM and anchored in the Union Customs Code registration system; it refers to the number assigned by the customs authority when customs registration has been carried out in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC.

Why it matters in practice

This term matters when an operator must be identified in customs-facing systems, linked to declarations, or tied to import-related compliance records. It is especially relevant in CBAM and other border-adjacent workflows.

Minespider commentary

For Minespider, the EORI number is a systems-identity term. It helps connect trade actors, customs registrations, and documentation flows in a way that can be operationalized inside compliance tooling.

Common confusions

  • Assuming Article 9 of the UCC is itself a neat standalone EORI definition rather than a registration rule.
  • Treating the EORI number as a general company identifier rather than a customs registration identifier.
  • Ignoring the customs-system context behind the CBAM definition.