A unified framework for the application of electronic documents has been established by ten Chinese departments. The 'Regulations on Promoting and Regulating the Application of Electronic Documents' were published as Order No. 22 on April 17, 2026, and will come into effect on September 1, 2026.
The issuing bodies are the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Commerce, the People's Bank of China, the General Administration of Customs, the State Taxation Administration, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the National Financial Regulatory Administration. The regulations were reviewed and approved at a meeting of the Cyberspace Administration of China on February 10, 2026, with the consent of the other nine departments.
The regulations apply to the application and related management of electronic documents within the territory of the People's Republic of China. Electronic documents are defined as records in data message form that can prove legal relationships concerning the carriage, warehousing, or insurance of goods, including electronic bills of lading, electronic sea waybills, electronic warehouse receipts, and other types, and are divided into negotiable and non-negotiable forms.
To promote their use, the regulations encourage institutions and enterprises in goods trade, logistics, and finance to recognize and use electronic documents, thereby enhancing digitalization and industry efficiency. Financial institutions may, on the premise of compliance and security, explore the use of new payment methods such as e-CNY for cross-border payments and prudently advance the use of e-CNY smart contracts to make financial services more intelligent.
Operators of electronic document systems are required to formulate business rules, verify user identities, and sign service agreements. Collaboration among enterprises, research institutions, and industry organizations is encouraged in technological innovation, achievement commercialization, and risk prevention, with sharing of practical experience.
Standards development is another focus. Relevant national authorities will strengthen the formulation of standards for electronic documents, encourage participation by social groups and enterprises, and promote the transformation of existing industry standards into national standards. System operators are encouraged to adopt recommended national standards and align with international standards in a timely manner to facilitate mutual recognition and sharing of information.
Reliability and security are given prominence. The regulations state that a reliable electronic document system should ensure that document information is fully traceable and tamper-proof, can identify the issuer, and, if supporting conversion between electronic and paper documents, ensures information consistency. For systems serving negotiable electronic documents, the system must also ensure uniqueness, exclusive control during the effective period, and the ability to identify the controlling party.
System operators must comply with laws such as the Cybersecurity Law, implement the cybersecurity classified protection system, and prepare emergency response plans. In data processing, they must follow the Data Security Law and the Personal Information Protection Law, establish full-process data security management systems, and enhance the protection of important data.
Regarding cross-border data transfer, the regulations specify that providing electronic document-related data overseas must comply with national data export rules. However, data collected and generated in international trade and cross-border transport may be exempt from security assessments or certifications if it contains no personal information or important data, or if the personal information involved is necessary solely for the issuance, negotiation, or pledge of electronic documents.
For oversight, the national cyberspace authority, together with other relevant departments, will formulate classification and grading standards and management requirements. Authorities may supervise and inspect system construction and operations, and relevant parties shall provide cooperation. Violations will be punished in accordance with applicable laws, with severe cases subject to criminal liability.