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Legal status tracker

eBL legal status by jurisdiction

Whether an electronic bill of lading can work as a document of title depends on the law that governs it. This tracker records, jurisdiction by jurisdiction, which legal framework applies and when it took effect.

Last verified 16 Oct 2026

As of 16 Oct 2026, this tracker covers 15 jurisdictions. In the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), Bahrain, Belize, China, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, a law giving electronic bills of lading the same effect as paper is in force. In India and Japan, reform is at the consultation or outline stage. In Morocco, there is no specific framework.

Based on the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR): the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), Bahrain, Belize, France, Paraguay and Singapore. Influenced by it or following it in part: China, Japan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Map of electronic bill of lading legal status by jurisdictionUnited States: In force · Uniform Commercial Code Article 7 (Documents of Title), 2003 revision, as enacted by the statesBelize: In force · Electronic Transactions Act, 2021 (Act No. 25 of 2021) · in force since 5 Oct 2021France: In force · Loi n° 2024-537 du 13 juin 2024 visant à accroître le financement des entreprises et l'attractivité de la France (Titre II, articles 14 à 17) · in force since 14 Mar 2025India: Consultation · The Digital Trade Facilitation Bill, 2026 (draft)Germany: In force · Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB), § 516 Abs. 2 (elektronisches Konnossement), inserted by the Gesetz zur Reform des Seehandelsrechts vom 20. April 2013 (BGBl. I S. 831) · in force since 25 Apr 2013Netherlands: In force · Wet van 1 april 2026 tot wijziging van Boek 8 van het Burgerlijk Wetboek in verband met de invoering van het elektronisch cognossement (Wet invoering elektronisch cognossement), Stb. 2026, 86 · in force since 1 Jul 2026Spain: In force · Ley 14/2014, de 24 de julio, de Navegación Marítima · in force since 25 Sept 2014China: In force · Maritime Code of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国海商法), as revised on 28 October 2025 (Presidential Order No. 58) · in force since 1 May 2026United Kingdom: In force · Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023 · in force since 20 Sept 2023Japan: Consultation · 商法（船荷証券等関係）等の改正に関する要綱 (Outline for Amendment of the Commercial Code (Bills of Lading, etc.) and Related Laws), adopted by the Legislative Council of the Ministry of JusticeParaguay: In force · Ley N° 6822 de los servicios de confianza para las transacciones electrónicas, del documento electrónico y los documentos transmisibles electrónicos · in force since 1 May 2022Morocco: No framework · Loi n° 43-20 relative aux services de confiance pour les transactions électroniques (promulgated by Dahir n° 1-20-100 of 31 December 2020)Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM): In force · Electronic Transactions Regulations 2021 · in force since 28 Feb 2021Bahrain: In force · Decree-Law No. (55) of 2018 with respect to Electronic Transferable RecordsSingapore: In force · Electronic Transactions Act 2010 (as amended by the Electronic Transactions (Amendment) Act 2021) · in force since 19 Mar 2021
  • Law in force
  • Enacted, not yet in force
  • Bill or consultation
  • No specific framework
  • Not yet tracked
  • Point: small or sub-national jurisdiction
Open the full map with every jurisdiction listed by status →
jurisdictions12 in force2 consultation1 no framework
15 rows · JSON
  • Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
    In force
    Instrument
    Electronic Transactions Regulations 2021
    MLETR-based
    Yes
    In force since
    28 Feb 2021
    Last verified
    16 Oct 2026
  • Bahrain
    In force
    Instrument
    Decree-Law No. (55) of 2018 with respect to Electronic Transferable Records
    MLETR-based
    Yes
    In force since
    —
    Last verified
    16 Oct 2026
  • Belize
    In force
    Instrument
    Electronic Transactions Act, 2021 (Act No. 25 of 2021)
    MLETR-based
    Yes
    In force since
    5 Oct 2021
    Last verified
    16 Oct 2026
  • China
    In force
    Instrument
    Maritime Code of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国海商法), as revised on 28 October 2025 (Presidential Order No. 58)
    MLETR-based
    Partial
    In force since
    1 May 2026
    Last verified
    16 Oct 2026
  • France
    In force
    Instrument
    Loi n° 2024-537 du 13 juin 2024 visant à accroître le financement des entreprises et l'attractivité de la France (Titre II, articles 14 à 17)
    MLETR-based
    Yes
    In force since
    14 Mar 2025
    Last verified
    16 Oct 2026
  • Germany
    In force
    Instrument
    Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB), § 516 Abs. 2 (elektronisches Konnossement), inserted by the Gesetz zur Reform des Seehandelsrechts vom 20. April 2013 (BGBl. I S. 831)
    MLETR-based
    No
    In force since
    25 Apr 2013
    Last verified
    16 Oct 2026
  • India
    Consultation
    Instrument
    The Digital Trade Facilitation Bill, 2026 (draft)
    MLETR-based
    Not established
    In force since
    —
    Last verified
    16 Oct 2026
  • Japan
    Consultation
    Instrument
    商法（船荷証券等関係）等の改正に関する要綱 (Outline for Amendment of the Commercial Code (Bills of Lading, etc.) and Related Laws), adopted by the Legislative Council of the Ministry of Justice
    MLETR-based
    Partial
    In force since
    —
    Last verified
    16 Oct 2026
  • Morocco
    No framework
    Instrument
    Loi n° 43-20 relative aux services de confiance pour les transactions électroniques (promulgated by Dahir n° 1-20-100 of 31 December 2020)
    MLETR-based
    No
    In force since
    —
    Last verified
    16 Oct 2026
  • Netherlands
    In force
    Instrument
    Wet van 1 april 2026 tot wijziging van Boek 8 van het Burgerlijk Wetboek in verband met de invoering van het elektronisch cognossement (Wet invoering elektronisch cognossement), Stb. 2026, 86
    MLETR-based
    Partial
    In force since
    1 Jul 2026
    Last verified
    16 Oct 2026
  • Paraguay
    In force
    Instrument
    Ley N° 6822 de los servicios de confianza para las transacciones electrónicas, del documento electrónico y los documentos transmisibles electrónicos
    MLETR-based
    Yes
    In force since
    1 May 2022
    Last verified
    16 Oct 2026
  • Singapore
    In force
    Instrument
    Electronic Transactions Act 2010 (as amended by the Electronic Transactions (Amendment) Act 2021)
    MLETR-based
    Yes
    In force since
    19 Mar 2021
    Last verified
    16 Oct 2026
  • Spain
    In force
    Instrument
    Ley 14/2014, de 24 de julio, de Navegación Marítima
    MLETR-based
    No
    In force since
    25 Sept 2014
    Last verified
    16 Oct 2026
  • United Kingdom
    In force
    Instrument
    Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023
    MLETR-based
    Partial
    In force since
    20 Sept 2023
    Last verified
    16 Oct 2026
  • United States
    In force
    Instrument
    Uniform Commercial Code Article 7 (Documents of Title), 2003 revision, as enacted by the states
    MLETR-based
    No
    In force since
    —
    Last verified
    16 Oct 2026

“MLETR-based” refers to the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (see MLETR explained). “Yes”: UNCITRAL lists the jurisdiction as an adopter without qualification. “Partial”: UNCITRAL lists it as influenced by the Model Law or limited in scope, or the government says the law follows it in part. Recognition in one jurisdiction does not guarantee recognition at the port of discharge; check the law that governs each transaction. Nothing here is legal advice. See the editorial policy for how statuses are verified.

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