acceptability tocustoms authorities ofagoodsdeclaration incomputer-readable formandthesubsequent useofsuchadeclaration incourtproceedings. The information contained inthereplies hadbeenusedinthepreparation ofthereport. 357.Thereportcametotheconclusion thaton agloballevalthere werefewer problems intheuseofdatastoredincomputers asevidence inlitigation than mighthavebeenexpected. Almostallofthecountries thatreplied tothe questionnaire appeared tohavelegalruleswhichwereatleastadequate topermit theuseofcomputer records asevidence andtopermitthecourttomakethe evaluation necessary todetermine theproperweighttobegiventothedataor document. 358.Thereportnotedthata moreserious legalobstacle totheuseofcomputers andcomputer-to-computer telecommunications ininternational tradearisesoutof requirements thatdocuments besignedorthatdocuments beinpaper-based form. Discussion intheCommission 359.TheCommission welcomed thisfirstreportprepared bytheSecretariat in implementation ofthedecision atitsseventeenth session toplacethesubject of legalproblems arising outoftheuseofautomatic dataprocessing ininternational tradeontheprogramme ofworkasapriority item.Theinformation itcontained andtheanalysis oftheproblems wouldaidStatesinreviewing theirlegalrules affecting theuseofcomputers andotherformsofautomatic dataprocessing. The Commission notedthatthereporthadbeenprepared bytheSecretariat in co-operation withotherinternational organizations whichareinterested inthe subject andencouraged theSecretariat tocontinue itscollaboration withthoseand otherorganizations activeinthefield.Inthatregarditnotedthatthe Secretariat wouldsubmitforthenineteenth session afurther reportinrespect of legalaspects ofautomatic dataprocessing. Decision 360.Afterdeliberation, theCommission decided toadoptthefollowing recommendation: TheUnitedNations Commission onInternational TradeLaw, Notingthattheuseofautomatic dataprocessing (ADP)isabouttobecome firmlyestablished throughout theworldinmanyphasesofdpmestic and international tradeaswellasinadministrative services, Notingalsothatlegalrulesbasedupon pre~ADP paper-based meansof documenting international trademaycreateanobstacle tosuchuseofADPin thattheyleadtolegalinsecurity orimpedetheefficient useofADPwhere itsuseisotherwise justified, -71-Notingfurther withappreciation theefforts oftheCouncil ofEurope, theCustoms Co-operation Council andtheunitedNations Economic Commission forEuropetoovercome obstacles totheuseofADPininternational trade arising outoftheselegalrules, Considering atthesametimethatthereisnoneedforaunification of therulesofevidence regarding theuseofcomputer records ininternational trade,inviewoftheexperience showing thatsubstantial differences inthe rUlesofevidence astheyapplytothepaper-based systemofdocumentation havecausedsofarnonoticeable harmtothedevelopment ofinternational trade, Considering alsothatthedevelopments intheuseofADParecreating a desirability ina number oflegalsystems foranadaptation ofexisting legal rulestothesedevelopments, having dueregard,however, totheneedto encourage theemployment ofsuchADPmeansthatwouldprovide thesameor greater reliability aspaper-based documentation, 1.Recommends toGovernments: (a)toreviewthelegalrulesaffecting theuseofcomputer records as evidence inlitigation inordertoeliminate unnecessary obstacles totheir admission, tobeassured thattherulesareconsistent withdevelopments in technology, andtoprovide appropriate meansforacourttoevaluate the credibility ofthedatacontained inthoserecords; (b)toreviewlegalrequirements thatcertain tradetransactions ortrade related documents beinwriting, whether thewritten formisacondition to theenforceability ortothevalidity ofthetransaction ordocument, witha viewtopermitting, whereappropriate, thetransaction ordocument tobe recorded andtransmitted incomputer-readable form; (c)toreviewlegalrequirements ofahandwritten signature orother paper-based methodofauthentication ontraderelated documents withaviewto permitting, whereappropriate, theuseofelectronic meansofauthentication; (d)toreviewlegalrequirements thatdocuments forsUbmission to ... governments beinwriting andmanually signedwithaviewtopermitting where appropriate, suchdocuments tobesubmitted incomputer-readable formtothose administrative services whichhaveacquired thenecessary equipment and established thenecessary procedures; 2. Recommends tointernational organizations elaborating legaltextsrelated totradetotakeaccount ofthepresent Recommendation inadopting suchtexts
**Analysis**
The text primarily focuses on the legal aspects of international trade and the use of computer-readable forms for goods declarations and subsequent use in court proceedings. It discusses the need for governments to review their legal rules to eliminate obstacles to the admission of computer records as evidence and to permit the use of electronic means of authentication and documentation.

**Category**
International trade