# IMO FAL Convention

*Last updated: 2026-06-26*

> Shipping companies, port operators, and port states rely on the IMO FAL Convention – formally the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic – to harmonize maritime documentation and clearance procedures internationally.

Shipping companies, port operators, and port states rely on the IMO FAL Convention – formally the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic – to harmonize maritime documentation and clearance procedures internationally. Adopted by the International Maritime Organization, the Convention obliges signatory states to streamline formalities, documentation requirements, and inspection procedures for international sea transport. In practical terms it defines standardized FAL Forms – covering general declarations, cargo manifests, and dangerous goods lists, among others – which all contracting ports must accept. This reduces time lost in port due to inconsistent national requirements and underpins eManifest obligations and digital port single-window systems. For freight forwarders, the FAL Convention is therefore not abstract treaty law but the framework behind concrete filing requirements at major seaports worldwide.

**Source:** [https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Facilitation/Pages/Default.aspx](https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Facilitation/Pages/Default.aspx)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | IMO FAL Convention |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 125 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-26 |
| Source | https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Facilitation/Pages/Default.aspx |

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