US Experience with Implementing ePhytos: Vision for an Improved

System of the Future

Jay Mitchell, USDA APHIS Geneva, Switzerland

July 10, 2018

What is Electronic SPS Certification?

Electronic SPS Certification is the authenticated and secure electronic transmission of sanitary and phytosanitary certification data, including the certifying statement, from the competent authority of the exporting country to the competent authority of the importing country.

Animal Disease Emergency Local Preparedness and Response, 2008

Advantages of Electronic Certification

Animal Disease Emergency Local Preparedness and Response, 2008

What is an ePhyto?

NOT a paper certificate NOT a scan of a paper certificate

• Electronic equivalent of a paper phytosanitary certificate

• Standardized XML schema (structure)

5

USDA APHIS Phytosanitary Certificate Issuance and Tracking (PCIT)

The Phytosanitary Certificate Issuance and Tracking (PCIT) system tracks the inspection of agricultural commodities and certifies compliance with plant health standards of importing countries.

What is PCIT?

Animal Disease Emergency Local Preparedness and Response, 2008

∗ Web-based certification system that trains and tracks certifying officials, collects payments on-line

∗ Rapid tool for auditing and authenticating/validating US certificates

∗ Facilitates resolving trace backs and held shipments

US - PCIT

Japan

New Zealand Australia

Mexico Canada

Electronic Exchange via Bi-Lateral Agreement (Many to Many)

Japan

New Zealand

Australia

Mexico Canada

US - PCIT

Cloud

Electronic Exchange via Hub (One to Many)

IPPC Project on Electronic Phytosanitary Certification (ePhyto)

Animal Disease Emergency Local Preparedness and Response, 2008

∗ Global initiative led by the IPPC

∗ Consists of a Hub and a Generic National System (simple web-based system to produce certificates)

∗ Electronic certificates carried within secure folder from NPPO (export) to hub to NPPO (import)

∗ Transmission is secure and ePhyto messages only kept in the hub until delivered

10

What is the IPPC ePhyto Solution?

Hub System to facilitate

exchange of ePhytos between NPPOs

GeNS

Web-based system to allow countries without

their own systems to produce, send and receive ePhytos in the XML format

(like a client-site)

Benefits of a Global ePhyto Hub

∗ Faster issuance of phytosanitary certificates with less fraud

∗ Reduces costs associated with issuing phytosanitary certificates

∗ Smoother clearance of plants & plant products at port of entry

∗ Potential to link with the World Customs Organization “Single Window” initiative and to harmonize codes and processes

Animal Disease Emergency Local Preparedness and Response, 2008

Thank you

Any Questions?