FIATA Launches eFBL Guide: A roadmap to Digital Freight Forwarding and Trusted Trade

Geneva, Switzerland, 1 April 2026 - FIATA has published the Practical Guide to the Electronic FIATA Multimodal Bill of Lading (eFBL), a comprehensive resource designed to help stakeholders across the global supply chain understand, adopt, and trust the eFBL as a legally robust and fully interoperable digital alternative to the traditional paper bill of lading. The guide reflects FIATA’s commitment to supporting its Members worldwide by providing clear, actionable guidance that enables freight forwarders to adopt digital trade solutions with confidence, consistency, and legal certainty.

The eFBL is the digital equivalent of the globally recognised negotiable FIATA Multimodal Transport Bill of Lading (FBL) – first established in 1968 and compliant with the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD)/International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Rules and the UCP 600. The guide explains how this long‑standing, trusted instrument can be used safely and effectively in electronic form, while remaining fully aligned with established commercial practices.
 
Built on the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) and compatible with the upcoming UNCITRAL Negotiable Cargo Documents (NCD) Convention, it achieves full legal equivalence with its paper counterpart while preserving the central role of freight forwarders in multimodal transport.

"The eFBL is the foundation of a smarter, more trusted global trade ecosystem. Freight forwarders stand at the heart of international supply chains, and this guide gives them the clarity and tools they need to lead the digital transition with confidence. Paperless trade is no longer a distant goal; it is here, and FIATA is committed to making it practical, secure, and accessible for forwarders operating in every market.”
Dr Stéphane Graber, Director General, FIATA

The guide provides practical, audience-specific guidance for freight forwarders, FIATA Association Members, customs authorities, banks, and software providers. It covers onboarding, the FIATA Digital Identity framework, liability insurance requirements, and the new Insured eFBL option – developed with Willis Towers Watson and Tokio Marine HCC. It also details verification mechanisms for third parties and outlines how customs authorities can leverage eFBL data through the FIATA API.

As an open-source, standards-based instrument aligned with the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) Multimodal Transport Reference Data Model and the World Customs Organization (WCO) Data Model, the eFBL is designed for seamless interoperability across commercial, regulatory, and financial workflows. FIATA is a founding member of the Future of International Trade (FIT) Alliance, working with BIMCO, DCSA, ICC, and SWIFT to advance eBL platform interoperability globally.

For further information, contact [email protected].

Access the Practical Guide to the electronic FIATA Multimodal Bill of Lading (eFBL) here!

About FIATA
FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations is a non-governmental, membership-based organisation representing freight forwarders in some 150 territories. FIATA’s membership is composed of 104 Associations Members and more than 4,700 Individual Members, overall representing an industry of 50,000 freight forwarding and logistics firms worldwide. Based in Geneva, FIATA is ‘the global voice of freight logistics'.

www.fiata.org

Contact
Pritha Prasad
FIATA Marketing Officer
[email protected]