To ascertain the legal equivalence between ECDIS and paper products the ECDIS systems installed on a ship must be checked and approved by an official body who is duly authorised by IMO and IEC.

Following standards define the requirements:

• IMO Resolution A.817(19); Performance Standards for ECDIS,
• IEC 60945; minimum hardware requirements, Environmental Conditions,
• IEC 61174; Maritime navigation and radio communication equipment and systems - Electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) - Operational and performance, requirements, methods of testing and required test results),
• IEC 61162; Digital Interface for navigational data.

Certain areas are not fully covered with ENC data. Therefore, it is allowed to carry raster charts (RNC) in RCDS mode together with a reduced portfolio of official paper charts. (Recommendations see under Port State Control).