The commercial exchange of vegetables between Argentina and Chile through the Electronic Phytosanitary Certification program (ePhyto) meant the issuance of more than 12 thousand electronic phytosanitary certificates during the first year of implementation, SENASA reported.
Both countries were the first in the world to implement electronic phytosanitary certification on May 4, 2020.This initiative replaces printed paper and connects the digital platforms of the importing and exporting countries to exchange these electronic certificates in XLM format (Extensible Markup Language, in English), which through encrypted messages provides greater security and transparency.
One of the main advantages of digital documentation is that it cannot be falsified. Health authorities in both countries quickly review the certificates of the documents, which increases the speed of response and speeds up the dispatch of goods.
“The e-Phyto has proven to be a key tool for trade in the current global context of the COVID-19 pandemic, given that air transport and courier services, the main means used to send phytosanitary certificates in paper format, have been restricted,” said the SENASA.
Following the implementation with Chile, Argentina continued to strengthen the use of this digital system and today also uses it with the United States, Sri Lanka and Costa Rica, the health agency recalled. And it clarified that Tests are being carried out to soon begin with Paraguay, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, the countries of the European Union and China..
Furthermore, The countries that make up the Mercosur Plant Health Committee (COSAVE) expressed their commitment to the implementation of e-Phyto for this 2021.
The development of the “e-Phyto System” is an initiative of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) that encourages contracting countries to implement it and maintains international trade in regulated articles in an easy, transparent, safe and digital manner.
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.
