What is an EORI number?

An EORI number is a unique reference assigned by a customs authority to identify economic operators within the European Union. It is needed for all companies and all types of export and import shipments. Since July 1st, 2009, European Union legislation requires that all member states adopt the EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) system.

Why do you need an EORI number?

The EORI number is a legal requirement and should be included on all custom declarations for import from or export to countries/territories outside the EU. Customs authorities will refuse any entry of goods without an EORI number.

How can you get an EORI number?

You can obtain an EORI number from the country’s customs website.

What is a Power of Attorney?

A Power of Attorney (POA) is a written authorization to represent or act on another's behalf in private affairs, business, or some other legal matter.

In this case, the POA is the importer’s or exporter’s authorization for FedEx to perform customs clearance on their behalf.

Why is it needed?

Having a POA is a legal requirement and that customs can always request the evidence of the POA.

How can I grant Power of Attorney to FedEx?

A power of attorney is required for each shipment worth more than $1,000 and this will be valid for the period chosen by you from the date of signing and for all relevant shipments.

Please see Explanatory Letter to Authorization for more details and we recommend you complete and submit this online form to us as soon as possible to ensure we can carry out customs on your behalf.

For an explanation of how to complete the form, please click here.

From now on a valid importers declaration will be required for any shipment worth more than $5000.

Attached is a link to the online declaration

Attached is a link to the customs website - Suppliers/foreign customers query

The importer declarations, if previously filled out, are valid regardless of the logistics provider through which the shipment is made.

Here is the list of items prohibited in the FedEx network.

For more information on country/territory specific prohibitions, contact us.

• Human corpses, human organs or body parts, human and animal embryos, or cremated or disinterred human remains.
• Explosives.
• Firearms, weaponry and their parts (acceptable between the U.S. and Puerto Rico).
• Perishable foodstuffs and foods and beverages requiring refrigeration or other environmental control.
• Live animals including insects.
• Plants and plant material, including cut flowers (cut flowers are acceptable from the U.S. to selected points in Canada and from Colombia, Ecuador and the Netherlands to the U.S.).
• Lottery tickets and gambling devices where prohibited by local, state, provincial or national law.
• Money (coins, cash, currency, paper money and negotiable instruments equivalent to cash such as endorsed stocks, bonds and cash letters).
• Pornographic and/or obscene material.
• Shipments** being processed under:
  • Duty drawback claims unless advance arrangements are made.
  • Temporary Import Bonds - acceptable under the FedEx International Broker Select option, for initial import only.
  • U.S. State Department licenses.
  • Carnets
  • U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration export permit.
  • Letters of Credit. Shipments subject to Letters of Credit are generally prohibited, with the exception of shipments subject to Letters of Credit calling for a "courier receipt," as defined by Article 25 of UCP 600, shipped using the FedEx Expanded Service International Air Waybill.
  • Certificate of Registration shipments (CF4455).
• Hazardous waste, including, but not limited to, used hypodermic needles or syringes or other medical waste.
• Shipments that may cause damage to, or delay of, equipment, personnel or other shipments.
• Shipments that require us to obtain any special license or permit for transportation, importation or exportation.
• Shipments or commodities whose carriage, importation or exportation is prohibited by any law, statute or regulation.
• Marijuana, including marijuana intended for recreational or medicinal use, and synthetic cannabinoids.
• Shipments with a declared value for customs in excess of that permitted for a specific destination.
• Dangerous goods except as permitted under the Dangerous Goods section of the Federal Express conditions of carriage.
• Processed or unprocessed dead animals, including insects and pets. Taxidermy-finished hunting trophies or completely processed (dried) specimens of whole animals or parts of animals are acceptable for shipment into the U.S.
• Packages that are wet, leaking or emit an odor of any kind.
• Wildlife products that require U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service export clearance by FedEx prior to exportation from the U.S.
• In-bond shipments destined to or being withdrawn from a Foreign Trade Zone or bonded warehouse, unless the FedEx International Broker Select option is selected for U.S. import shipments, or the FedEx International Controlled Export service option is selected for U.S. export shipments.
• APO/FPO/DPO addresses.
• C.O.D. shipments.
  
  

** You may be able to ship these items via FedEx International Controlled Export, FedEx International Premium, FedEx International Express Freight (IXF) or FedEx International Airport-to-Airport (ATA). For information on FedEx International Controlled Export, call International Customer Service at 1.800.GoFedEx 1.800.463.3339 (say "international services"). For information on the other services listed call FedEx Express Freight Customer Service at 1.800.332.0807.

Useful links:

• The Ministry of Economy is launching a manual for personal imports - in which anyone can check the tax rate. To enter the new system click here.
• For a personal import guide of the Ministry of Economy and Industry, click here.
• For the Israel Customs personal import guide, click here.

FAQs & useful information:

• What is personal import?
  Defined as the importation of goods and products (including paperwork) arriving in Israel from another country for personal use only by a private individual. The quantity and nature of the goods are suitable for personal and private use only.
  
  
  
• When is a customs clearance procedure required?
  Every shipment that enters Israel is subject to a customs clearance procedure. The type of procedure is determined first and foremost according to the value of the shipment for tax purposes, the type of goods and the weight of the shipment.
  
  
  
• What are the different clearance processes and when does each one take place?

  Low Value (LV) clearance procedure - clearance of a shipment with a value of up to $1,000.

  High Value (HV) clearance procedure - clearance of a shipment with a value of over $1,000.

  Starting from January 2018, after the rise of the global gateway project (‘Shaar Olami’) at customs, each shipment is transmitted individually to customs (transmission of documents and scanned paperwork).

  After the shipment is cleared, an import declaration (former import list) will be received.
   

• What is real value?

  The value of goods in real purchase value, that is, the real market value of the goods.

  Customs may demand the price list of the goods and determine, at its sole discretion, the real value for the purpose of paying import taxes.
   

• The parties participating in the process:

  Israel Tax Authority.
  Swissport freight terminal.
  Government offices that issue various permits if necessary.
   

• Customs clearance process:

  Customs brokerage services include classification services for each shipment, the transmission of data to customs, handling customs inspections and issuing certificates.
   

• What paperwork or information is required in the process?
  • AWB.
  • Purchase invoice - it is the sender's responsibility to provide.
  • Optional paperwork - preference documents (certificates of origin) granting exemption or customs relief in accordance with the trade agreement that the State of Israel has with the country of origin - the responsibility of the sender. An importer in possession of this original paperwork may send the exemption as a digitally scanned document for further clearance.
  • Permits and licenses - in accordance with the free import order, there are types of goods that require government permits for customs clearance. For example: communication permits, transportation, national food services and more - under the responsibility of the recipient or the customs broker.
    
     
• What are the expenses involved in the process and who charge them?

  For local IL taxes, customs clearance fees and costs for personal import click here
  For more information, please visit the Tax Authority website