Central America modernizes foreign trade processes with digitalization. The option for the Electronic transmission of harmonized Sanitary and Phytosanitary Export Certificates between the States Parties that make up the bloc.
The measure responds to COMIECO Resolution 481-2023 (16.11.2023/XNUMX/XNUMX), which determines that said transmission must be carried out through the Central American Digital Trade Platform (PDCC), administered by SIECA.
Transitional period
For the implementation, the regulations established a transitional period (from January 30 to March 1, 2024) so that exporters are aware of this new tool, and can transmit the certificates in physical or electronic format. As of March 2, 2024, digital use will be mandatory.
Given the existence of some procedural doubt, the official text approved a “Technical Guide for Electronic Transmission of the Data Set” (Annex).
SIECA indicated, in this regard, that sanitary and phytosanitary export certificates are now transmitted electronically and replace their physical presentation at the Integrated Border Posts (Corinto, Agua Caliente, El Amatillo, Florido).They have the same value and evidentiary effectiveness as if they had been signed in handwritten form."He said.
Sanitary and phytosanitary export certificates are understood to be documents issued by the exporting or re-exporting country that certify the condition of animals, plants, their products and by-products, in accordance with the requirements of the importing country issued by its authority in charge of sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
In summary, the States Parties to the Central American Integration (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama) have unified the formats of export certificates and the electronic transmission through the digital media of the country of origin. Thus, the interoperability between the PDCC and the national systems will allow the certificate to be received electronically and transmitted from the country of origin to the country of destination, simplifying the processes and speeding up the dispatch.
Aduana News is the first Argentine customs newspaper to launch its digital version. With 20 years of experience, its publications and initiatives aim to provide the most relevant knowledge on customs issues in order to contribute to safe trade in the region.
