eFTI Certification: what Shippers, Carriers and Forwarders need to know

The European Commission has drafted the rules for certifying eFTI platforms. For economic operators such as shippers, carriers and forwarders, the certificate determines whether authorities must accept their digital freight data, and for which types of cargo. Before choosing a platform, it is important to check its certification profiles.

‍

Going paperless with transport documents is no longer a pilot topic. Under the EU's eFTI Regulation, authorities in every Member State will have to accept regulatory freight information shared electronically, but only through certified platforms.

‍

The draft certification rules are written mainly for platform providers and the bodies that will assess them, namely Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs). The draft text mainly covers evidence, test methods and procedures, but it also has implications for operators. It defines what being certified means, how certification can be checked and what changes for the people who create, sign and present transport documents every day.

‍

This article explains these points in simple terms. It is based on the draft Commission Delegated Regulation and its annexes, which may still change before final approval.

‍

What Is eFTI Platform Certification?

‍

eFTI certification is an EU-wide check confirming that a platform meets the functional and data requirements established by the eFTI rules. Independent, accredited assessment bodies carry out the checks, not the authorities.

‍

The draft establishes one common framework for all Member States:

• Same requirements everywhere. Each requirement comes with a defined evaluation method, so a certificate issued in one country has the same meaning in another.
• Independent assessors. Conformity Assessment Bodies, accredited under EU rules, assess the platform and issue the certificate.
• A public EU list. National authorities publish lists of certified platforms. Together, these lists form a Union reference list.

‍

The requirements come from two acts already in force: the functional requirements in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2243 and the common data set in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2024.

‍

Why Does eFTI Certification Matter to Transport Operators?

‍

Because it determines whether authorities must accept digital freight data. Under Regulation (EU) 2020/1056, competent authorities must accept regulatory information made available through a certified eFTI platform. When information is shared through an uncertified platform, there is no such obligation.

Using eFTI remains a choice for operators: paper documents are still allowed. But if operators choose digital documents, certification is what makes them count across borders.

‍

Which eFTI Certification Profiles Should You Check?

‍

It depends on what you carry and how you transport it. The draft defines six certification profiles: four basic profiles, one for each transport mode, and two add-ons for dangerous goods and waste, which can only be combined with a basic transport profile.

‍

The two add-ons are very different. The dangerous goods profile is mainly about handling ADR, RID or ADN data correctly. The waste shipments profile requires full integration with DIWASS, the EU system for waste shipment documents: retrieving documents, submitting carrier transfer confirmations and receiving the consignee's signature.

‍

For this reason, a general statement that a platform is eFTI certified is not enough. It is important to ask which profiles are certified and for which transport modes.

‍

What Changes for Your Office and Drivers?

‍

A certified eFTI platform must behave in specific ways, and some of these requirements change daily routines. Here are the five main changes:

‍

1. Stronger login. Registered users, such as planners and administrators, must sign in with a verified digital identity. In practical terms, the platform must know for certain who is logging in: the person's identity is checked once, and every subsequent login requires two factors, such as a phone app plus a PIN or fingerprint. EU law calls this the eIDAS "substantial" assurance level. Drivers and others using one-off temporary access (point 2) only need two-factor authentication.
2. Temporary access for drivers and subcontractors. People without an account receive a link providing time-limited, two-factor access to a specific document.
3. A deliberate signing step. Users confirm that they have read the data before signing. Signatures must meet at least the advanced electronic signature level.
4. Roadside checks without paper. Drivers show a QR code or a readable copy of the document. The officer retrieves the data through the authority's eFTI Gate.
5. Logging and consent. Every action on the data is logged. Users see a consent message.

‍

How Can You Verify an eFTI Platform's Certification?

‍

Every certified eFTI platform will receive a certification mark with a QR code linking to its entry in the EU reference list. The list will show whether the certificate is valid, suspended or withdrawn.

‍

Under the draft, the mark includes the EU emblem, the label "eFTI certified", the certificate identifier and the QR code. It must appear on the platform itself, in its user documentation and on every readable copy of a downloaded document. A sealed, machine-readable version will also accompany the data sent to authorities.

‍

Two features of the draft are worth noting:

‍

• No expiry date. A certificate remains valid until it is withdrawn. Instead of renewal, the provider submits a self-assessment every year and must report substantial changes.
• Visible suspension. If a problem is found, the certificate may be suspended for up to 12 months while the issue is resolved. The EU list shows that status, and the certificate is withdrawn if the problem is not solved.

‍

What Should You Ask Your Transport Document Platform Provider?

‍

Three questions cover most of the risks. It is important to ask them before committing to a platform for the years ahead.

‍

1. Which profiles are you seeking certification for, and when?

‍

Make sure they match your transport modes and cargo, including dangerous goods or waste if you carry them.

‍

2. How can I verify your certification status?

‍

You should be able to scan the certification mark or look up the platform in the EU reference list at any time.

‍

3. What happens to my documents if your certificate is suspended?

‍

The draft does not yet specify the consequences for operators, so ask the provider how it plans to handle this situation.

‍

eFTI Certification: What Happens Next?

‍

The rules are still a draft. Feedback is open on the European Commission's Have Your Say page until 18 November 2026, and the text may change before adoption. If you use or plan to use digital freight documents, now is the time to make your voice heard.

‍

For operators, the practical step is simple: include eFTI certification in your checklist when choosing or reviewing a digital document platform. Know which profiles you need, ask how to verify them and discuss the provider's timeline.

‍

Which certification profile matters most in your operations? Let us know, and we will cover it in more depth.

‍