If your business is involved in the movement of goods from Europe into the UK via French ports (and vice-versa), you may have come across the term Enveloppe Logistique Obligatoire, or ELO. It’s not just another acronym to add to your customs vocabulary, it’s a critical requirement that ensures customs and logistics data are accurately tied together at key French ports. So, what exactly is ELO, and what do you need to know about it? Let’s break it down.
The ELO is a mandatory logistics envelope and a type of port pass that must be created at certain French ports to link together all the declarations and logistics operations related to a specific shipment. It acts as a digital “wrapper” that connects the various customs declarations (such as Entry Summary Declarations, temporary storage declarations, and transit documents) with transport and handling information at the port.
It’s essentially a coordination mechanism that ensures customs authorities and port operators have visibility and control over goods entering the EU through France.
For all stakeholders (Drivers, Economic Operators, and ELO Managers) currently transporting goods to the UK, understanding the GMR (Goods Movement Reference), issued through the GVMS (Goods Vehicle Movement Service), is essential. Similarly, ELO serves as the French equivalent of the GMR and is crucial for goods entering France via RoRo ports or the Channel Tunnel.
When crossing the border, drivers must present the GMR for the UK and the ELO for France. It is important to note that the GMR and ELO systems are not connected, necessitating separate preparation and management for both. This ensures that the necessary documentation is in place for a smooth transition across borders.
By implementing ELO as the counterpart to the UK’s GMR system, France aligns its logistics processes, enabling a harmonised yet distinct approach to border management.
The ELO will bring several benefits for hauliers importing into France from the UK.
1. The driver will spend less time at the port
All of the documents and data required for the border crossing (ENS, import, export and transit declarations) will be merged into a single barcode and single reference, which the lorry driver must provide at the port. This will allow the vehicle and declarations to be "linked" together.
2. The ELO creator will have enhanced visibility
Once registering themselves the ELO creator will be able to see the progress of the goods across the Smart Border (pairing/embarkation/disembarking).
The ELO creator will also be able to navigate previously created ELOs.
ELO is mandatory for goods entering and exiting France via RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) ports and the Channel Tunnel, including:
These ports are key entry points for goods from the UK into the EU, and as such, they require a harmonised and traceable process to link all customs movements to the physical logistics flow.
ELO was initially planned for deployment on April 1st, 2025, and would become mandatory by September 1st, 2025. After September, the current envelope logistics process will no longer exist.
French customs announced on April 24th, 2025, the deployment of ELO will take place on April 28th, 2025.
The introduction of ELO is part of France’s smart border initiative, aimed at:
With ELO, customs can more easily verify that all required declarations are in place and correctly matched to the physical transport of goods, reducing the risk of delays, inspections, or penalties.
The ELO must be created by the logistics party responsible for the shipment’s arrival or departure in France, which could be:
Be aware that French customs do not assign legal responsibility for completing the formalities to any specific party. This differs from the requirements of the Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) and the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS), where the carrier holds the legal responsibility.
The party who creates the ELO must ensure the envelope is created before the goods arrive or pass the French border. They must also link all relevant customs declarations to that envelope.
To stay on top of ELO requirements, you should:
Failing to create or correctly populate the ELO can result in:
CAS will integrate with the ELO system to enable fully automated, real-time filing of customs declarations for imports and exports in Europe and the UK while simultaneously presenting them to the ELO system.
The Enveloppe Logistique Obligatoire (ELO) may sound like another layer of bureaucracy, but it actually serves a valuable purpose in keeping EU borders running smoothly. Understanding how it works, and ensuring you or your partners are handling it correctly, can help avoid costly delays and keep your supply chain moving.
Need help to navigate ELO or automate your customs flows? Contact GTM@customs4trade.com or make an appointment to discuss with a member of the team to find out how we can help.
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