New Implementation Date for the ELO Procedure Postponed

The French customs authorities have officially postponed the mandatory implementation of the Enveloppe Logistique Obligatoire (ELO), which was originally planned for September 1, 2025. A new mandatory date is expected to be announced in September 2025, with full enforcement expected in autumn 2025.

Background

The postponement aims to give all parties involved – especially transport companies, freight forwarders, and customs service providers – additional time for technical implementation and process adaptation.

Introduction of the Enveloppe Logistique Obligatoire (ELO) for Transports Between the UK and France

As part of the continued digitalization of customs processes, the Enveloppe Logistique Obligatoire (ELO) is being introduced for cross-border goods transport between the United Kingdom and France.

Since April 28, 2025, the system has been available for voluntary use during a transitional phase. The original mandatory start date of September 1, 2025, has been postponed by the French authorities. A specific new date is still pending.

Purpose and Function

The ELO serves a similar function to the UK’s Goods Movement Reference (GMR), enabling the bundled, digital transmission of all customs-relevant data. The following information is consolidated in the ELO:

• Entry Summary Declaration (ENS)
• Import and export declarations
• Transit documents

These are stored in a single barcode, which the driver presents at the port during check-in.

Responsibility

The transport company is responsible for creating and managing the ELO. To do so, an ELO creator must be appointed. This person enters the relevant data via a Prodouane account on the French customs portal.

❓ ELO FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

🔹 What is the ELO?

The Enveloppe Logistique Obligatoire is a digital procedure from French customs that consolidates and pre-submits customs data for goods moving between the UK and France.

🔹 When will ELO become mandatory?

The previously planned date of September 1, 2025 has been postponed to autumn 2025. A new implementation date will be announced by the authorities.

🔹 What data does the ELO include?

The ELO consolidates all necessary information for border clearance, including:

• Entry Summary Declaration (ENS)
• Transit, import, and export references

🔹 Who creates the ELO?

A designated ELO creator from the transport company is responsible for data input and management. The ELO is created via the Prodouane online platform.

🔹 What must the driver present?

• The GMR code (for UK side)
• The ELO barcode (for French side)

🔹 How does clearance at the port work?

An automated risk analysis is performed after the crossing. Based on the result, the vehicle is directed to:

• ✅ Green lane: no inspection – proceed immediately
• ⚠️ Orange lane: customs check required