ECD › Explanation and guidance

Rules for issuing EFTCO Cleaning Documents (ECD)

1. Introduction

The uniform EFTCO Cleaning Document (ECD) has been developed by EFTCO, in co- operation with ECTA and Cefic, in order to satisfy the needs of cleaning stations, transport companies and chemical, feed and food manufacturing companies.

The use of a uniform European EFTCO document has important advantages for all parties involved:

• The document has the same form which can easily be distinguished from the falsifications.
• The use of a unique numbering system provides security and authentication traceable against fraudulent misuse of the cleaning documents.
• The fact that the same information is always in the same place on the cleaning document will facilitate its use by operators at loading points, by drivers etc.
• The use of the EFTCO Tank Cleaning Codes will make it easy for everybody to identify and understand which cleaning operations have been carried out to clean the tank.
• The EFTCO Tank Cleaning Codes are currently available in many European languages.

This provides a clear understanding of the cleaning document information for all users of throughout Europe.

2. General statements: copyright and permit for use

EFTCO owns the exclusive copyright of the EFTCO Cleaning Document recorded under the European trademark registration nr. 016236614. The National Cleaning Association (Associations) which are the Members of EFTCO identified on www.eftco.org, are authorised by EFTCO to permit the use of ECD to the registered Cleaning Station, on condition that all rules and terms laid down by EFTCO are met. The use of the ECD is approved and limited to cleaning documentation at stationary cleaning stations. These terms may change from time to time at EFTCO’s sole discretion.

The Cleaning Station is responsible for following the rules stated here. In case of any misuse, the National Cleaning Association may suspend or withdraw the right for a Cleaning Station to use the ECD.

3. Definitions and foundations

“A tank shall be described as clean when there are no visible traces or odour of the last product or cleaning agent following an inspection from the man-lids”.

- The EFTCO definition of ‘clean’

A standard tank cleaning is the cleaning of the last product transported in the tank, as declared to the cleaning station and recorded on the ECD. By mutual agreement parties may agree to clean a tank from its last carried product and to prepare a tank for loading of the next cargo. In that case parties will agree specific complementary cleaning work to be carried out in order to achieve the required cleanliness. This may also require additional and special inspection services. When cleaning services are carried out to the specifications of the customer, with an inspection that is different from the EFTCO definition of ‘clean’, this should be recorded in box 11 ‘Comments’.

The ECD ‘definition of clean’ is set by inspection at the end of the cleaning process. The operator of the tank is invited to confirm this state and request further actions.

No length of validity is given for an ECD.

An ECD cannot be issued for a visual | odour inspection (EFTCO Code T01) if the tank was not cleaned by the same cleaning site. ECDs with code T01 only are not allowed and seen as `INVALID`.

A tank can be re-inspected at the moment of pick up by a driver when there is a doubt this tank still meets the EFTCO definition of clean at that moment. 

When this inspection indicates this tank is still meeting this definition, the code T01 combined with the date and time of this inspection is put in box 10 or 11 of the ECD.

When the ECD was already printed and cannot be modified, a stamp of the cleaning station with code T01, date, time and the signature of the cleaning station can be put on the printed ECD.    

The stamp needs to have the follwoing information: 

                                    

A sample of the stamp format and content needs to be approved and achived by the national association on behalf of EFTCO before they are allowed to be used.

                   

Example

 

When the visual inspection shows that additional actions are neededto meet the EFTCO defnition of clean, these additional actions and the date and time when they were done, must be added in box 10 of the original ECD. When the ECD was already printed, a new ECD must be issued adding all cleaning details of the first cleaning together with the additional actions carried out afterwards. The initial first ECD must be declared as invalid and not being handed out to customer. The time for the end of cleaning is the initial end of cleaning time of the first ECD and the time/date for additional actions must be added in box 10.

 

4. Specific ECD information 

If you require more specific information, please take a look on the following page: Specific information.