Japan: Adopted Final Guidelines for E-Seal

On 16 April 2024, the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) officially adopted the “Final Summary of the Study Group on e-Seal” and the “Guidelines for e-Seal (2nd edition)”. This new guideline sets forth standards for the certification and use of e-Seals, aiming to enhance the security and efficiency of electronic data transactions across sectors. The guideline contains provisions regarding the “level classification” of e-Seals, use cases, mechanisms to ensure the functioning of e-Seals as well as regulations regarding the certification of e-Seals. The MIC is set to start the operation of the e-Seal certification in 2024.