For decades, the European Federation of Tank Cleaning Organisations (EFTCO) has played a quiet, but critical role in safeguarding standards across chemical and food logistics.
As 2026 is now upon us all, the federation is sharpening its focus. Guided by five clearly defined goals that are digitalisation, food safety, business continuity, globalisation and quality control, EFTCO’s board has mapped out a year designed to future-proof tank cleaning in a fast-changing world.
At the heart of this strategy is a recognition that logistics no longer operates within neat regional boundaries.
Supply chains are global, scrutiny is intense and expectations around safety, traceability and sustainability continue to rise.
EFTCO’s response is not to reinvent its principles, but to apply them more widely and more intelligently.
Thinking globally
One of the most significant shifts for EFTCO in recent years has been its move towards a truly global outlook.
Historically, the federation’s work focused on embedding professional tank cleaning standards across Europe, an effort that has paid dividends in terms of alignment, safety and environmental responsibility.
However, globalisation has changed the landscape. Tank cleaning and transport now operate on an international scale and disparities in standards can pose real risks across interconnected supply chains.
EFTCO recognises that harmonisation can no longer stop at Europe’s borders.
The EFTCO Cleaning Document (ECD), long established as a trusted tool, remains central to this vision.
Its proven value in supporting safety, efficiency and environmental responsibility has created growing interest well beyond Europe.
In response, EFTCO is actively inviting professional tank cleaning operators worldwide to explore global membership, provided they share the federation’s commitment to high standards.
To support this expansion, newly elected board member Nikolai Grigorev has been appointed as the main point of contact for current and prospective global members, strengthening co-ordination between regional practices and global ambitions.
Food safety in focus
Food safety remains one of EFTCO’s most complex and sensitive priorities. In 2025, a dedicated EFTCO sub-team worked on revising the organisation’s Food Assessment questionnaire — a tool first introduced in 2013 to provide transparency around cleaning stations involved in food-related operations.
The revised questionnaire, due for publication this year, reflects the evolving landscape of food safety standards.
It takes into account the wide range of existing requirements linked to tank cleaning for food and food-related products, giving the food industry a clearer basis on which to conduct its own quality evaluations.
Kosher and halal cleaning are an important part of this work. As expectations change, EFTCO has supported revisions to traditional processes — including the energy-intensive final steaming step in kosher tank cleaning — aligning them more closely with modern energy policies and sustainability goals, without compromising safety or compliance.
Turning digital talk into action
Digitalisation is often described as inevitable — yet in tank cleaning logistics, progress has been uneven.
While paperless systems such as the electronic EFTCO Cleaning Document (eECD) and electronic consignment notes (eCMR) have been technically possible for years, uptake across chemical logistics has lagged behind other sectors.
This year, EFTCO intends to press harder for greater digital take up.
Working closely with its digital partner ECLIC, the federation is calling on the industry to move from discussion to implementation.
The introduction of EU eFTI regulations is expected to provide fresh momentum, creating both regulatory pressure and opportunity.
For EFTCO, digitalisation is not a trend but a practical tool for improving traceability, reducing administrative burden and strengthening trust across the supply chain.
Quality without compromise
As expectations rise, so too does the need for robust quality control. EFTCO continues to work with stakeholders across safety, environmental protection, sustainability, education and technical development to strengthen understanding and best practice in tank cleaning.
A key concern remains the identification of so-called “black sheep” within the logistics chain.
Preventing misuse or fraud involving the ECD is essential if the document is to retain its credibility.
The organisation’s commitment to monitored, transparent and high-quality tank cleaning remains non-negotiable.
Preparing for change
Business continuity may sound conservative, but in today’s logistics environment it is anything but.
Since its founding in 1993 by 10 visionary companies, EFTCO has helped tank cleaning service providers secure their place within the logistics chain. Today, however, that chain is evolving rapidly.
EFTCO acknowledges that adaptation is unavoidable. Regulatory change, digital disruption and shifting customer expectations demand flexibility.
What remains constant is the federation’s intention to act as a reliable partner — one that embraces “times of change” without abandoning the principles on which it was built.
Looking ahead
Taken together, EFTCO’s 2026 agenda reflects confidence without complacency. By combining global ambition with technical detail and digital progress with practical safeguards, the federation is positioning itself, and its members, for the realities of modern logistics and tank cleaning.
For more information: Visit eftco.org. This article was written by Lutz Harder, EFTCO secretary
Tank cleaning without borders
