There is no fixed deadline in the regulation for how long it takes to gain access to the EU information system. What is certain: it is not simply a matter of creating an account and submitting a declaration right away. There are preliminary steps, such as linking your business data, recording an EORI number, and designating who may submit on behalf of your company. Each step can experience delays as soon as data does not match or an authorisation is missing.
The practical experience of companies that have already started shows that the processing time varies considerably. An enterprise with current trade register and EORI data and one clear responsible person usually progresses faster through registration than a company with multiple locations, an externally hired adviser, or a structure where it is not immediately clear who fulfils which role. It is therefore wise not to schedule this step just before a submission deadline, but to start well in advance.
Which steps determine access
Before you can submit a due diligence declaration, your enterprise must be known in the system with the correct identification data. This begins with an EORI number, which must be linked to the correct legal entity. Registration of the enterprise itself in the EU information system then follows, along with the linking of users who may act on behalf of that enterprise. Only once that linking is correct can a declaration actually be drawn up and submitted.
In practice, companies mainly get stuck on two points: an EORI number that is not yet linked to the current business structure, and unclear designation of who acts as the authorised representative. For companies working with an external bureau or a parent company in another EU Member State, extra delays often arise, because authorisations must first be established legally and technically before the system accepts them.
What affects the processing time in practice
The speed at which access is established depends not only on the system itself, but also on how complete and consistent your own data are. Differences between the name on your Chamber of Commerce extract, your EORI registration, and your VAT number often lead to additional checks. The same applies when multiple people within an organization believe they are responsible for submitting without this being formally documented.
The role you perform also matters. A market operator that is the first to bring a product into the EU typically requires more direct registration than a trader further down the chain who mainly passes on data. You can check which role applies to your business and what obligation comes with it have it determined in a few questions. That is also the moment when it becomes clear whether, and when, registration in the information system is relevant for you.
What you can prepare now
Even if the exact entry date for your product stream is not yet near, it is worthwhile not to delay the registration step. Make sure your EORI number is current, that your company data match across the different registers, and that it is established within your organization who is authorized to submit on behalf of the company. This prevents you from running into an administrative delay just before a deadline that has nothing to do with your file itself.
This registration step is separate from building your substantive file, with suppliers, plots and geolocation data. Both processes can run in parallel, but it is important not to mix them up in your planning. An overview of how these two tracks relate to each other, and what is asked of you at each step, can be found in the knowledge base with guidance on each topic.
Where eudri.com fits in
eudri.com structures and validates the file behind your declaration, and generates on that basis the due diligence declaration or the simplified declaration. You submit it yourself via the EU information system, either yourself with our guidance or by authorizing us. How that data flow proceeds precisely and where the information comes from, you can read on the page about how the platform works. The registration and the final assessment of your file remain a responsibility of yourself and, where necessary, of the competent supervisory authority.
Are you unsure whether and when registration is required for your situation, and what role applies? Take the free role check or read the other topics in the knowledge bank; both give you a first concrete answer without obligation.