diff --git a/cds_migrator_kit/rdm/records/load/entities/ep_migration_entry_load.py b/cds_migrator_kit/rdm/records/load/entities/ep_migration_entry_load.py
index 700d4416..8a3908e0 100644
--- a/cds_migrator_kit/rdm/records/load/entities/ep_migration_entry_load.py
+++ b/cds_migrator_kit/rdm/records/load/entities/ep_migration_entry_load.py
@@ -149,14 +149,15 @@ def _load_split(self, entry: MigrationEntry, recid):
                     recid, restricted_records
                 )
 
-                # 2. Create and approve EP approval request
-                approval_request_load.create(restricted_record_state, uow=uow)
-
-                # Parent access grants + community-inclusion request for
-                # the restricted half.
+                # Parent access grants + communities before EP approval request
+                # (needs parent.communities.default for referee group lookup).
                 self.parent_load_cls(
                     restricted_entry, self.migration_logger, restricted_record_state
                 ).load(published_record=restricted_records[-1], uow=uow)
+
+                # 2. Create and approve EP approval request
+                approval_request_load.create(restricted_record_state, uow=uow)
+
                 self.request_load_cls(restricted_entry).load(
                     restricted_records, self.create_inclusion_request, uow
                 )
diff --git a/cds_migrator_kit/rdm/records/load/entities/ep_split.py b/cds_migrator_kit/rdm/records/load/entities/ep_split.py
index cf5b8895..e4b444ad 100644
--- a/cds_migrator_kit/rdm/records/load/entities/ep_split.py
+++ b/cds_migrator_kit/rdm/records/load/entities/ep_split.py
@@ -323,10 +323,15 @@ def identifiers(self, identifiers):
         kept = []
         removed = []
         for id_entry in identifiers:
-            if id_entry.get("scheme") != "cdsrn":
+            scheme = id_entry.get("scheme")
+            identifier = id_entry.get("identifier", "")
+            # apprn belongs only on the public record.
+            if scheme == "apprn":
+                removed.append(identifier)
+                continue
+            elif scheme != "cdsrn":
                 kept.append(id_entry)
                 continue
-            identifier = id_entry.get("identifier", "")
             if not identifier.startswith(EP_APPROVAL_REPORT_NUMBER_PREFIX):
                 kept.append(id_entry)
                 continue
diff --git a/cds_migrator_kit/rdm/records/transform/entities/record.py b/cds_migrator_kit/rdm/records/transform/entities/record.py
index 5058ed30..599fd94f 100644
--- a/cds_migrator_kit/rdm/records/transform/entities/record.py
+++ b/cds_migrator_kit/rdm/records/transform/entities/record.py
@@ -189,6 +189,8 @@ def _metadata(self, dojson_entry, raw_dump_entry):
         # metadata["resource_type"]; see mappers/registry.py.
         for mapper in METADATA_MAPPERS:
             metadata[mapper.id] = mapper.map_value(ctx)
+            # Consume the key even if the value is later dropped.
+            dojson_entry.pop(mapper.id, None)
         return {k: v for k, v in metadata.items() if v}
 
     def _custom_fields(self, dojson_entry, raw_dump_entry):
diff --git a/tests/cds-rdm/test_ep_approval_entry.py b/tests/cds-rdm/test_ep_approval_entry.py
index 483fc232..3cb97593 100644
--- a/tests/cds-rdm/test_ep_approval_entry.py
+++ b/tests/cds-rdm/test_ep_approval_entry.py
@@ -493,6 +493,22 @@ def test_restricted_removes_matching_cern_ep_rn(self, app):
 
         assert APPROVED_REPORT_NUMBER not in cdsrn_values
 
+    def test_restricted_removes_apprn(self, app):
+        identifiers = [
+            {"identifier": RECID, "scheme": "cds"},
+            {"scheme": "apprn", "identifier": APPROVED_REPORT_NUMBER},
+            {"scheme": "cdsrn", "identifier": DRAFT_REPORT_NUMBER},
+        ]
+        entry = _make_entry(_versions_with_epphapp(), identifiers=identifiers)
+        result = RestrictedEntry(
+            entry, _make_approval_request(), _make_migration_logger()
+        ).build()
+
+        assert not any(
+            i["scheme"] == "apprn"
+            for i in result["record"].body["metadata"]["identifiers"]
+        )
+
     def test_restricted_keeps_draft_report_number(self, app):
         entry = _make_entry(_versions_with_epphapp())
         result = RestrictedEntry(