Notice - Notification of WTO Members: United States Implementing New Format for Phytosanitary Certificates and Phytosanitary Certificates for Re-export
| WTO code |
G/SPS/N/USA/3285 |
| Date notice |
05/11/2021 |
| Notice type |
Regular |
| Title |
United States Implementing New Format for Phytosanitary Certificates and Phytosanitary Certificates for Re-export |
| Summary |
The United States has implemented a new format for phytosanitary certificates and phytosanitary certificates for re-export. The use of plain paper and proliferation of electronic phytosanitary certificates (ePhyto) during the global pandemic has illustrated that commodities can be safely and successfully traded without traditional security paper. The United States has updated security measures in its Phytosanitary Certificate Issuance and Tracking (PCIT) system to allow for any Phytosanitary Certificate (PC) to be verified and reduce the possibility for fraud. All PCs issued by the United States include the following security characteristics: Generated through a secure, role-based system; Contain a unique certificate number located in the top center of the PC; The United States Department of Agriculture Logo on the top right of the PC; A North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) watermark in the lower center of the PC; A unique Quick Response (QR) Code located on the bottom left of the PC, which allows validation of PCs online; and Validation of the authenticity of PCs online using the PCIT Certificate Viewer at the following URL: https://pcit.aphis.usda.gov/pcit/faces/ext_cert_viewer.jsf. APHIS has also included in this notification; a guide for using the validation tool as well as a sample of each new certificate type.
In addition, ePhyto may be utilized for consignments exported from the United States to any trading partner currently utilizing the IPPC HUB. We look forward to additional trading partners joining the ePhyto system. Considering the measures of ePhyto, QR code, and online validation, the United States will print all Phytosanitary Certificates and Phytosanitary Certificates for Re-Export on plain paper starting 1 January 2022. Some PCs may still arrive on the security paper for items that were certified before 1 January 2022.
|
| Product |
Plants and plant products |
| Country |
United States |
File attach:
NUSA3285.pdf
Orther Notice: