Vareya
UK brands

GB EORI vs EU EORI: what a UK brand needs before shipping stock to an EU warehouse

Why a GB EORI number does not cover an EU import, and who is responsible for each side of a UK-to-EU stock transfer.

Two EORI numbers, two directions

An Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number identifies a business to customs authorities. Since Brexit, a GB EORI number covers moving goods out of Great Britain — it does not cover the import side once those goods reach the EU.

A UK brand sending stock to a warehouse inside the EU needs a GB EORI to export the consignment from Great Britain. The import into the EU is a separate customs event, requiring an EU-side EORI held by whichever party is named as the importer of record on that declaration.

This is easy to miss because both numbers use the same three letters. In practice they are two different registrations, issued by two different customs authorities, and only one of them belongs to the exporting UK business.

Who arranges what

Getting a GB EORI number (if the business does not already have one) and preparing the UK export declaration is the brand's responsibility, or that of its freight forwarder or customs agent.

Customs clearance support is available for shipments into and out of Europe. Contact Vareya to discuss specific requirements.

In practice this means: the brand's GB EORI and export paperwork cover the outbound leg from the UK; the EU-side import declaration, prepared using an EU EORI, covers the goods arriving at the warehouse in Breda. Vareya's role starts once the consignment has cleared into the EU and arrives at the warehouse.

Before the first shipment

  • Confirm the business holds a GB EORI number, or apply for one before the first consolidated shipment.
  • Agree who is preparing the EU-side import declaration and which EU EORI it will be filed under.
  • Check whether any of the products being shipped need an export licence, regardless of value.
  • Plan for a small number of consolidated shipments rather than frequent small parcels — this is usually simpler to declare correctly on both sides.

Frequently asked

Does my GB EORI number work for EU imports?

No. A GB EORI number covers exports from Great Britain. Importing into the EU requires a separate EU-side EORI number, held by whichever party is the importer of record for that declaration.

Who prepares the EU import declaration for stock arriving at the Breda warehouse?

That is arranged by the brand or its customs representative, using an EU EORI. Vareya's role starts when the goods arrive at the warehouse in Breda.

Sources

  1. 1.Get an EORI number: Who needs an EORI — GOV.UK
EU fulfilment for UK ecommerce brands Check your EU fulfilment fit

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