CHAPTER I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Subject matter
Article 1
With a view to ensuring the proper functioning of the ... market while aiming at an adequate level of security of ... trust services this Regulation:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. lays down rules for trust services, in particular for electronic transactions; and
3. establishes a legal framework for electronic signatures, electronic seals, electronic time stamps, electronic documents, electronic registered delivery services and certificate services for website authentication.

Scope
Article 2
1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2
This Regulation does not apply to the provision of trust services that are used exclusively within closed systems by operation of law or from agreements between a defined set of participants.
3
This Regulation does not affect the law related to the conclusion and validity of contracts or other legal or procedural obligations relating to form.

Definitions
Article 3
For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply:
1. ‘electronic identification’ means the process of using person identification data in electronic form uniquely representing either a natural or legal person, or a natural person representing a legal person;
2. ‘electronic identification means’ means a material and/or immaterial unit containing person identification data and which is used for authentication for an online service;
3. ‘person identification data’ means a set of data enabling the identity of a natural or legal person, or a natural person representing a legal person to be established;
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5. ‘authentication’ means an electronic process that enables the electronic identification of a natural or legal person, or the origin and integrity of data in electronic form to be confirmed;
6. ‘relying party’ means a natural or legal person that relies upon ... a trust service;
7. ‘public sector body’ means a public authority, or a private entity mandated by a public authority to provide public services, when acting under such a mandate;
8. ‘public authority’ means:
  1. a public authority within the meaning of the Procurement Act 2023 (see section 2(2) of that Act) that is not an excluded authority within the meaning of section 2(5)(a) or (d)(i);
  2. in respect of a devolved Scottish authority within the meaning of section 2(6) of the Procurement Act 2023, a contracting authority as defined in regulation 2(1) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015;
9. ‘signatory’ means a natural person who creates an electronic signature;
10. ‘electronic signature’ means data in electronic form which is attached to or logically associated with other data in electronic form and which is used by the signatory to sign;
11. ‘advanced electronic signature’ means an electronic signature which meets the requirements set out in Article 26;
12. ‘qualified electronic signature’ means an advanced electronic signature that is created by a qualified electronic signature creation device, and which is based on a qualified certificate for electronic signatures;
13. ‘electronic signature creation data’ means unique data which is used by the signatory to create an electronic signature;
14. ‘certificate for electronic signature’ means an electronic attestation which links electronic signature validation data to a natural person and confirms at least the name or the pseudonym of that person;
15. ‘qualified certificate for electronic signature’ means a certificate for electronic signatures, that is issued by a qualified trust service provider and meets the requirements laid down in Annex I;
16. ‘trust service’ means an electronic service normally provided for remuneration which consists of:
  1. the creation, verification, and validation of electronic signatures, electronic seals or electronic time stamps, electronic registered delivery services and certificates related to those services, or
  2. the creation, verification and validation of certificates for website authentication; or
  3. the preservation of electronic signatures, seals or certificates related to those services;
17. ‘qualified trust service’ means a trust service that meets the applicable requirements laid down in this Regulation;
18. ‘conformity assessment body’ means a body defined in point 13 of Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008, which is accredited in accordance with that Regulation as competent to carry out conformity assessment of a qualified trust service provider and the qualified trust services it provides;
19. ‘trust service provider’ means a natural or a legal person who provides one or more trust services either as a qualified or as a non-qualified trust service provider;
20. ‘qualified trust service provider’ means a trust service provider who provides one or more qualified trust services and is granted the qualified status by the supervisory body;
21. ‘product’ means hardware or software, or relevant components of hardware or software, which are intended to be used for the provision of trust services;
22. ‘electronic signature creation device’ means configured software or hardware used to create an electronic signature;
23. ‘qualified electronic signature creation device’ means an electronic signature creation device that meets the requirements laid down in Annex II;
24. ‘creator of a seal’ means a legal person who creates an electronic seal;
25. ‘electronic seal’ means data in electronic form, which is attached to or logically associated with other data in electronic form to ensure the latter’s origin and integrity;
26. ‘advanced electronic seal’ means an electronic seal, which meets the requirements set out in Article 36;
27. ‘qualified electronic seal’ means an advanced electronic seal, which is created by a qualified electronic seal creation device, and that is based on a qualified certificate for electronic seal;
28. ‘electronic seal creation data’ means unique data, which is used by the creator of the electronic seal to create an electronic seal;
29. ‘certificate for electronic seal’ means an electronic attestation that links electronic seal validation data to a legal person and confirms the name of that person;
30. ‘qualified certificate for electronic seal’ means a certificate for an electronic seal, that is issued by a qualified trust service provider and meets the requirements laid down in Annex III;
31. ‘electronic seal creation device’ means configured software or hardware used to create an electronic seal;
32. ‘qualified electronic seal creation device’ means an electronic seal creation device that meets mutatis mutandis the requirements laid down in Annex II;
33. ‘electronic time stamp’ means data in electronic form which binds other data in electronic form to a particular time establishing evidence that the latter data existed at that time;
34. ‘qualified electronic time stamp’ means an electronic time stamp which meets the requirements laid down in Article 42;
35. ‘electronic document’ means any content stored in electronic form, in particular text or sound, visual or audiovisual recording;
36. ‘electronic registered delivery service’ means a service that makes it possible to transmit data between third parties by electronic means and provides evidence relating to the handling of the transmitted data, including proof of sending and receiving the data, and that protects transmitted data against the risk of loss, theft, damage or any unauthorised alterations;
37. ‘qualified electronic registered delivery service’ means an electronic registered delivery service which meets the requirements laid down in Article 44;
38. ‘certificate for website authentication’ means an attestation that makes it possible to authenticate a website and links the website to the natural or legal person to whom the certificate is issued;
39. ‘qualified certificate for website authentication’ means a certificate for website authentication, which is issued by a qualified trust service provider and meets the requirements laid down in Annex IV;
40. ‘validation data’ means data that is used to validate an electronic signature or an electronic seal;
41. ‘validation’ means the process of verifying and confirming that an electronic signature or a seal is valid;
42. ‘the equivalent EU law’ means Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market and repealing Directive 1999/93/EC, or any instrument replacing that Regulation, as it has effect in EU law from time to time.

Periods of time
Article 3A
References in this Regulation to a period expressed in hours, days, months or years are to be interpreted in accordance with Article 3 of Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No. 1182/71 of the Council of 3 June 1971 determining the rules applicable to periods, dates and time limits.

Internal market principle
Article 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Data processing and protection
Article 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Word in Art. 1 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Electronic Identification and Trust Services for Electronic Transactions (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/89), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 2(a)(i); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 1 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Electronic Identification and Trust Services for Electronic Transactions (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/89), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 2(a)(ii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Art. 1(a) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Electronic Identification and Trust Services for Electronic Transactions (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/89), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 2(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Art. 2(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Electronic Identification and Trust Services for Electronic Transactions (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/89), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 3(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 2(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Electronic Identification and Trust Services for Electronic Transactions (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/89), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 3(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Word in Art. 2(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Electronic Identification and Trust Services for Electronic Transactions (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/89), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 3(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Art. 3(4) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Electronic Identification and Trust Services for Electronic Transactions (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/89), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 4(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 3(6) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Electronic Identification and Trust Services for Electronic Transactions (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/89), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 4(3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Art. 3(42) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Electronic Identification and Trust Services for Electronic Transactions (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/89), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 4(5); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Art. 4 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Electronic Identification and Trust Services for Electronic Transactions (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/89), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 5; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Art. 5 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Electronic Identification and Trust Services for Electronic Transactions (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/89), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 6; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Art. 3(7)(8) substituted (24.2.2025) by The Procurement Act 2023 (Consequential and Other Amendments) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/163), regs. 1(2), 30(2)
Art. 3A inserted (20.8.2025) by Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (c. 18), ss. 134(1), 142(1); S.I. 2025/904, reg. 2(u)