In order to facilitate customs transactions throughout the EU every economic operator will, for Customs purposes be identified by means of a unique number from July 1.

In practice the Economic Operator Registration and Identification number will function as an ID number for traders based in the EU in their dealing with Customs authorities.

All economic operators having the status of legal entities - sole traders, partnerships, limited liability companies - will be issued with an EORI number. One number will be issued per legal entity; branches and company divisions will be required to use the EORI issued to the organisation of which they form a part, except where they are registered as separate companies.

In order to simplify the process for all concerned the EORI number will be identical to traders' existing VAT number. EORI numbers will be displayed on a publicly-accessible website, thus allowing traders to confirm whether a particular EORI number is valid or not. Traders will also be able to decide whether they want visitors to the website to view other information about their operations such as the identity of traders to whom numbers belong and their line of business.

Those traders who would like their details to be accessible to the public are to declare this to Customs by filling in and signing the appropriate consent form, which may be downloaded from the Customs Division's website http://finance.gov.mt/page.aspx?site=CUST&page=forms .

Forms are to be mailed or delivered by hand to the Customs Division at Custom House, Lascaris Wharf, Valletta VLT 1920. Envelopes are to be addressed to the Director General, Customs Division, and marked "EORI".

Further information is available from eoricustoms.mfei@gov.mt or by phoning on 2568 5290.