Digitalisation can significantly improve efficiency, reliability and cost-effectiveness in transport and logistics. The use of electronic instead of paper documents, in particular, is expected to bring important benefits in terms of simplified administration and cost savings. However, a majority of the documents used in freight transport operations are still issued, transferred and archived on paper. The European Commission is currently assessing options for a policy initiative having as objective the exploitation of the full potential of the digitalisation of transport documents for freight in all transport modes.

There is a large number of freight documents used during transport. For the purpose of its assessment, the Commission divided these documents into two categories: "transport documents" which serve as contract of carriage for the goods being transported, and "other freight documents" that may be required for the due completion of a transport operation. Such "other freight documents" include dangerous goods certificates, phytosanitary certificates, certificates of origins, waste declarations and the like.

Based on a preliminary analysis, the Commission decided to focus the initiative on the contract of carriage documents. These documents are those most commonly referred to as "transport documents" and are governed by specific international conventions. Depending on the transport mode concerned, they take the form of consignment notes, waybills or bills of lading.

The European Commission is also now assessing the current reporting formalities directive for maritime transport. Both these initiatives aim at supporting trade and transport by exploiting the benefits of digitalisation, notably in terms of business to government relations. Consistency will be ensured between these two initiatives.
Related links

The inception impact assessment

Public consultation on Reporting formalities for ships (European Maritime Single Window environment)