Meaning
Procedural statutory framework dictates the categorization and admissibility of evidentiary materials presented during civil litigation within the jurisdiction of mainland courts. Under the national framework, PRC Civil Procedure Law Article 63 lists the eight distinct categories of legally recognized evidence that parties can submit to substantiate their claims. This provision governs everything from physical documents and stamps to witness statements and digital records.
The law establishes the legal boundaries for what information a judge may consider during a dispute.
Statutory Evidence
The statutory list divides acceptable materials into categories to ensure organized trial proceedings. These categories include documentary evidence, physical evidence, audio-visual materials, electronic data, witness testimony, expert opinions, records of inquests, and written statements of litigants. By defining these boundaries, PRC Civil Procedure Law Article 63 forces litigants to organize their case files into recognized formats before submitting them to the court registry.
Failure to align evidence with these statutory definitions can result in the exclusion of critical documents.
Digital Admissibility
Administrative implementation has expanded the interpretation of these categories to accommodate modern supply chain operations. In particular, the electronic data category now accepts digital signatures, timesheet tracking software logs, and email correspondence between buyers and factories. Under PRC Civil Procedure Law Article 63, these digital records carry equal weight to traditional paper files if their chain of custody and authenticity can be verified.
This shift allows international parties to present remote audit logs as primary evidence during supplier disputes.
Operational Requirement
Litigation preparation requires that all electronic records be notarized by a local notary public prior to trial submission. Unnotarized digital files from foreign servers are routinely rejected by regional courts during civil proceedings.