Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by Revenue that the majority of businesses with UK imports or exports valued in excess of €1 million have an EORI number. As per Table 1 and Table 2 below, 205 businesses with imports and 60 businesses with exports in excess of €1 million do not have an EORI number.

As part of its ongoing multi-layered trader engagement programme, Revenue wrote to these businesses in the last few months outlining the practical preparatory steps to take based on their trade pattern in 2018. In addition, they have received or will soon receive a follow up phone call from Revenue. I understand that the programme of follow up calls by Revenue will be completed by Revenue 20 Sept 2019.

It should be noted that some businesses may have changed their trade patterns and plan to source products from within the EU in the post-Brexit environment. Other businesses are part of larger groups that have customs expertise within the group and may transfer the customs operations to the more experienced part of the business. The key issue for businesses is that if they plan to continue trading with the UK in a post-Brexit environment they must take the necessary steps to prepare their business.

There has been a significant increase in registrations for EORI numbers with almost 5,000 businesses registering in August 2019 alone and an additional 2,700 since the start of September. The total number of registrations to date in 2019 is almost 15,500.

89% of the total value of VIES Imports from the UK in 2018 and 96% of the total value of VIES Exports to the UK in 2018 was carried out by businesses who now have an EORI number. This indicates that businesses that are going to be significantly impacted by Brexit are responding to the call to be prepared.

I very much welcome Revenue’s intensified Brexit engagement with businesses and I strongly urge all businesses to take note of and act on Revenue’s advice, thereby ensuring they are Brexit ready by 31 October.

TABLE 1 - Statistics related to VIES Imports from the UK in 2018 (as at 13.9.19)

TABLE 2 - Statistics related to VIES Exports to the UK in 2018 (as at 13.9.19)