The Argentine Province of Entre Rios adopts the Digital Signature Law

Law No. 25,506 on Digital Signature (“Digital Signature Law”), approved by the National Congress in 2001, defined digital signatures, set down requirements for their validity, and established their equivalence with handwritten signatures. In particular, it established the validity and enforceability of digital signatures in Argentina, for both the public and the private sector.

Section 50 of the Digital Signature Law invited the provinces to adhere to its system by means of approving the necessary local legislation. Amongst others, the provinces of Buenos Aires, Corrientes, Cordoba, San Luis, Salta, La Rioja, Mendoza, Tierra del Fuego, Chubut, Misiones, Tucuman, Rio Negro, Santa Fe and San Juan have issued legislation adopting the Digital Signature Law.

The province of Entre Rios became the most recent province to adhere to the regime when it sanctioned Provincial Law No. 10,425, published on June 7, 2016. The regulation adhered to all terms of the Digital Signature Law and authorized the use of digital signatures in all provincial public agencies.

In addition, under Section 3 of Provincial Law No. 10,425, the provincial executive branch will uphold Section 48 of the Digital Signature Law by promoting the generalized use of the digital signature in a way that allows for the simultaneous processing of files, the automatic search for information and the follow up and control of files by the interested party. In a maximum of 5 years’ time, digital signatures will be applied on all laws, decrees, orders, decisions, rules and other administrative acts issued by the province.   

Lastly, Provincial Law No. 10,425 established that the executive branch will regulate the new law within 180 days of its publication.