As of November 1, 2003, the Israeli Customs Authority has requested that all transportation related documents, i.e., bills of lading, waybills, etc., for imports to Israel must bear a "VAT registration number" for the foreign supplier, as well as the importer. Because businesses in the United States do not have VAT (Value Added Tax) registration numbers, companies are advised to use their Employer Identification Number (EIN) or other tax identification number in place of the VAT number.