APHIS Close to Finalizing Electronic Phytosanitary Certificates Connection
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service “is making great progress in implementing electronic country to country transfer of plant phytosanitary certificates” through what is known as the ePhyto hub, Nicole Russo, APHIS director-Quarantine Policy, Analysis, and Support, said Sept. 17 during the online conference of the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America. Currently, 42 countries, including Mexico and all of Europe, exchange “ePhytos,” and that number is expected to “increase significantly,” she said.
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APHIS typically has requirements for “original documentation,” though the requirements are currently being waived due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she said. “What our export services unit has worked with the International Phytosanitary Convention to do is” to create an “electronic global hub system that any country in the world can hook up to and transmit phytosanitary certificates directly from the country of origin for certifying the shipment directly into ACE,” she said. “So we are finalizing that bridge, that connection.” That is scheduled to “go live right now on Sept. 26,” she said. That means if there's a phytosanitary certificate associated with an entry, “that information will be directly accessible through ACE” and “no paper document needs to be provided.” Russo said that APHIS is training CBP on how to use the system for the certificates, as well as permits, which will also be able to be transmitted electronically.