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Legal Instrument

Title

United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures (MLES)

Dates of the instrument
Signature: 05 July 2001
Entry into force*: --
Summary

The UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures (MLES) aims to enable and facilitate electronic signature usage by establishing technical reliability criteria for equivalence between electronic and handwritten signatures. The Model Law helps states create modern, harmonized legal frameworks that address electronic signature treatment and provide certainty about their legal status. The Model Law establishes a comprehensive framework for electronic signatures by providing both technical standards and legal guidelines while ensuring flexibility in implementation. It helps create certainty around electronic signature usage while promoting international harmonization of digital authentication practices.

Website(s)
MLES webpage
Relevant document(s)
UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures with Guide to Enactment 2001
Geographical coverage
Global
Legal nature
Model Laws/Legal standards
Trade processes
Commercial Processes
Transport Processes
Border and Regulatory Processes
Trade documents
Bill of Lading (BoL)
Sea Waybill (SW)
Air Waybill (AW)
Sea Cargo Manifest (SCM)
Air Cargo Manifest (ACM)
Rail Consignment Note (CIM)
Road Consignment Note (CMR)
Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD)
Customs Declaration (CD)
Phytosanitary certificate (ePhyto)
Contact point
United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
uncitral@un.org
https://uncitral.un.org/
Contact point
* For a model law – entry into force of the law enacting a model law; for a treaty–entry into force
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