In which countries is the eCMR Protocol accepted?

One of the main concerns of the transport and logistics industry regarding the electronic transport document or eCMR is its validity outside Spanish borders.

In fact, as stated in the study “Degree of eCMR Implementation in Spain”, one of the main barriers to the widespread adoption of this solution is the lack of homogeneity between countries in terms of regulations.

However, there are different documents that guarantee its use in international transport with the same validity as in Spain.

eCMR Protocol, international commitment

The main document supporting the use of the electronic transport document abroad is the Additional Protocol to the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR), relating to the electronic consignment note, i.e. the eCMR.

This was approved in Geneva in 2008 and Spain adhered to it in 2011. As stated in the text, “any consignment note issued in accordance with this Protocol shall be deemed equivalent to the consignment note referred to in the Convention, and shall therefore have the same evidentiary force and produce the same effects as the latter”.

Accession to the e-CMR Protocol by the different states has been gradual and to date 38 countries have joined, 39 if Belgium, which has signed the Protocol but has not yet ratified it, is taken into account.

This means that there are 38 countries, European and non-EU, that already allow the electronic transport document to operate under common criteria.

Countries adhering to the eCMR Protocol

The countries that have adhered to the eCMR Protocol to date, according to United Nations data, are as follows:

• Germany (January 5, 2022)
• Armenia (October 08, 2024)
• Austria (August 6, 2024)
• Azerbaijan (December 27, 2022)
• Belgium (signed on May 27, 2008)
• Belarus (February 7, 2019)
• Bulgaria (September 15, 2010)
• Denmark (June 28, 2013)
• Slovakia (February 21, 2014)
• Slovenia (August 15, 2017)
• Spain (May 11, 2011)
• Estonia (November 2, 2016)
• Finland (signed on May 27, 2008 and ratified on January 11, 2019)
• France (October 5, 2016)
• Greece (October 23, 2023)
• Hungary (August 28, 2024)
• Iran (November 8, 2017)
• Italy (June 28, 2024)
• Kyrgyzstan (August 26, 2022)
• Latvia (signed on May 27, 2008 and ratified on February 3, 2010)
• Lithuania (signed on May 27, 2008 and ratified on March 7, 2011)
• Luxembourg (December 26, 2017)
• Moldova (March 14, 2018)
• Norway (signed on May 27, 2008 and ratified on June 11, 2020)
• Oman (September 23, 2020)
• Netherlands (signed on May 28, 2008 and ratified on January 7, 2009)
• Poland (June 13, 2019)
• Portugal (September 26, 2019)
• United Kingdom (December 20, 2019)
• Czech Republic (April 14, 2011)
• Romania (March 14, 2019)
• Russia (March 6, 2018)
• Sweden (signed on May 27, 2008 and ratified on March 9, 2020)
• Switzerland (signed on May 27, 2008 and ratified on January 26, 2009)
• Tajikistan (July 9, 2019)
• Turkmenistan (December 21, 2022)
• Turkey (January 31, 2018)
• Ukraine (July 10, 2020)
• Uzbekistan (October 16, 2020)

Complementary regulations to the eCMR Protocol

In addition to the eCMR Protocol, which we have already seen offers security to Spanish carriers to operate abroad with electronic documentation, there are other complementary regulations that reinforce the use of e-CMR in Europe.

On this occasion we refer to the eFTI (Electronic Freight Transport Information) Regulation, which establishes a legal framework for the electronic communication of regulatory information relating to the transport of goods on the territory of the Union between the economic operators concerned and the competent authorities.

As we discussed in the post Countdown to mandatory eCMR: eFTI and Sustainable Mobility Act, the eFTI came into force on August 21, 2024, which means that mandatory eCMR is closer than ever.

Specifically, in July 2027, at which time this regulation obliges administrations to accept transport information in electronic format.

This is a new guarantee for those carriers who are hesitant to implement an eCMR solution due to the possible inconveniences that may arise abroad.

In summary, the eCMR Protocol and the eFTI Regulation share the objective of digitizing and optimizing international freight transport by eliminating paper-based processes and promoting data interoperability throughout the European Union and its environment.

Both frameworks seek to reduce or eliminate reliance on paper in logistics and freight transportation.

The eCMR Protocol replaces paper waybills and other documents with electronic documents in road transport, facilitating real-time data access and management.

For its part, the eFTI Regulation establishes a framework for the digital exchange of information between operators and regulatory authorities in Europe, including the data necessary for regulatory compliance.

SeamLess eCMR by FIELDEAS Track and Trace

The SeamLess eCMR module of FIELDEAS Track and Trace is ready to comply with all international regulations that will come into force in the short term.

In fact, it is one of the few solutions on the market with full legal and regulatory guarantees, both in Spain, complying with the requirements of the modification of the ROTT in June 2023, and abroad.

In addition, our solution has the capacity to include all the required information depending on the type of transport and to include advanced digital signature in the processing of the documentation, as well as to guarantee the integrity of the information in the custody of the document.