Title
Guidelines for the Use of Electronic Certificates (International Maritime Organization (IMO))
Dates of the instrument
Signature: --
Entry into force*: --
Summary
The Guidelines for the Use of Electronic Certificates (IMO) aims to reduce administrative burdens from paper certificates in maritime operations and facilitate acceptance of electronic certificates across stakeholders in the maritime transport chain. The Guidelines establish clear standards for transitioning from paper to electronic certificates in maritime transport while ensuring security and reliability. They enable efficient electronic verification of certificates and reduce administrative burden while maintaining necessary controls.
Key paperless trade provisions include:
- Requirements for electronic certificate validity and authenticity
- Digital signature and verification standards
- Online verification system specifications
- Electronic certificate security features
- Standardized data format requirements
- Electronic certificate access controls
- Digital certificate issuance protocols
- Authentication mechanism standards
- Electronic verification methods
- System backup requirements
Website(s)
Relevant document(s)
Geographical coverage
Global
Legal nature
Recommendations/guidelines
Trade processes
Transport Processes
Border and Regulatory Processes
Trade documents
Bill of Lading (BoL)
Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD)
Non-preferential Certificate of Origin (CoO)
Customs Declaration (CD)
Contact point
* For a model law – entry into force of the law enacting a model law; for a treaty–entry into force