TCI held a seminar on UN/CEFACT standards in agriculture, fisheries, and agri-food

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Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the largest net exporter of food, is recognized by the World Bank as "the breadbasket and lungs of the world." (1)In this context, the Trade and Compliance Institute (TCI) launched its activities in the region with the goal of promoting international trade through the exchange of knowledge and best practices.

As part of this initiative, a webinar on UN/CEFACT standards applied to the agriculture, fisheries, and agri-food sectors was held on March 19, 2025. The event brought together international experts to discuss the digitalization of trade, systems interoperability, and the implementation of electronic sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) certificates.

Challenges and progress in trade facilitation

Participants highlighted the need to harmonize and standardize trade procedures to improve efficiency in agricultural and fisheries trade. Progress and challenges in the adoption of electronic standards and coordination among global trade actors were discussed, with particular emphasis on single windows to streamline customs and phytosanitary procedures.

The role of UN/CEFACT and its key stakeholders

UN/CEFACT, the intergovernmental body responsible for simplifying and harmonizing international trade, plays a fundamental role in digital transformation and interoperability. During the seminar, the importance of its standards for optimizing trade operations and reducing cross-border barriers was highlighted. In this regard, the speakers included prominent representatives from the international organization. Specifically, the following participated:

• Kamola Khusnutdinova, Economic Affairs Officer and Secretary of UN/CEFACT.
• Erik Bosker, UN/CEFACT Co-Coordinator on Agriculture, Fisheries and Agri-Food.
• Joaquín González G., co-coordinator of UN/CEFACT at the Single Window.
• Rodrigo Robles, coordinator of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Agri-Food Working Group at the TCI.
• Simon Padilla, representative of the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF).
• Eduardo Leite, UN/CEFACT Regional Rapporteur for LAC.

Representatives of 15 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, reaffirming the global interest in the digitalization and harmonization of agri-food trade.

The TCI report, organized into eight points, is detailed below for your information:

1. Introduction and initial clarifications

Eduardo Leite opened the meeting by explaining the role of the Trade and Compliance Institute (TCI) and its function as UN/CEFACT Regional Rapporteur for Latin America and the Caribbean. The Rapporteur must:

a) Promote the interests and activities of UN/CEFACT among governments, intergovernmental organizations, relevant trade associations and trade and business facilitation organizations, with the support of the UNECE secretariat, responsible for official communications;

(b) Promote the participation of experts in the UN/CEFACT work programme and promote the implementation of its standards, recommendations and other outcomes; and

c) Coordinate UN/CEFACT activities in the region.

Regional Engagement: He highlighted the importance of aligning UN/CEFACT discussions with regional realities, promoting integration through international standards.

2. General information about UN/CEFACT

Kamola Khusnutdinova presented an overview of the structure and operations of UN/CEFACT, covering:

• The role and process of appointing heads of delegation.
• Internal processes and governance structure.
• Internal processes and governance structure.
• How stakeholders can contribute to working groups.
• UN/CEFACT's mission and objectives: an overview, highlighting the importance of digital connectivity and sustainable value chains.
• Regional Commitment: Emphasized the need for greater participation by Latin American and Caribbean countries in the development of standards.
• The plenary is composed of member states, with formal participation through heads of delegation.
• There is a dedicated advisory group for UN/LOCODE.
• Another subgroup is the ESG Traceability Specialist Team for sustainable value chains in the circular economy.
• UN/CEFACT's work programme is renewed every two years; the current one focuses on enhancing digital connectivity and fostering sustainable value chains.
• UN/CEFACT has nearly 1700 experts worldwide, from the public and private sectors.
• The results include policy recommendations (48 to date), e-business standards (more than 900), and guidance/training materials.
• The work is carried out in collaboration with partners such as the WTO, UNCTAD, ITC, IMO, ICAO, and IATA, among others.
• Open Development Process (ODP)

Kamola Khusnutdinova also explained the Open Development Process, addressing:

• The seven steps to developing standards and recommendations.

•  The importance of multi-sector participation in the development of standards.

•  How new initiatives can be submitted for evaluation by UN/CEFACT.

3. Past and future activities in the field of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agri-Food

Erik Bosker highlighted the work carried out by UN/CEFACT, including:

1. Guidance material, such as:

   a. Technical documents:

• Digital Product Conformity (2023)

• Gaps in Aligning Digitization with Transit Procedures (2024)

   b. Electronic SPS Certificate (e-CERT) (2023)

2. Recommendations:

• Trade Facilitation Recommendations

• Code List Recommendations

3. Standards:

   – Electronic SPS Certificate (eCERT)

   – BSP eQuality

   – For various agricultural processes: 1. Animal Traceability, 2. eDAPLOS Crop Data Sheet Process, 3. Electronic Animal Passport (Livestock Record Information Exchange), 4. Electronic Crop Reporting (eCROP), 5. Electronic Data Exchange Proxy, 6. Electronic Reporting of Laboratory Observations (eLabs), 7. Fisheries Language for Universal Exchange (UN/FLUX), 8. Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), 9. Traceability of Primary Natural Products and 10. Traceability and Transparency in Textiles and Leather.

Erik elaborated on the Electronic SPS Certificate (e-CERT), mentioning:

• SPS-eCERT Process G2G electronic exchange of SPS certificates.

• Certificate (SPSCERT).

• Certificate Acknowledgment (SPSACK).

• Implementation Guide.

• Code Lists Recommendations.

• Core Component Library (CCL) for standardized data elements.

• Impact on other standard setting organizations (Codex Alimentarius and WOAH model veterinary certificates).

• Message structure and consideration to use Single Window.

Collaboration with the Single Window domain was highlighted in relation to the White Paper: Establishment of a Regional Single Window and the Review of Recommendation 36 on Single Window interoperability (Generate interest in contributing to a policy recommendation for electronic SPS certification in a Single Window environment, within the framework of Recommendation 36, to promote the interoperability and interconnectivity of e-SPS systems).

4. Future plans and ongoing work in the Single Window domain

Joaquín González G. addressed:

• Integration of Single Window Systems: The importance of integrating Single Window systems with agricultural standards was discussed, highlighting interoperability as a key challenge.  
• Ongoing interoperability projects: such as the interoperability of phytosanitary and zoosanitary certificates of the Pacific Alliance.  
• The importance of collaboration between the Agriculture and Single Window sectors.
• How Recommendation 36 can be revised to strengthen this integration.
• The benefits of harmonized business processes for the agri-food sector.
• Regional Single Window Project: The development of a Technical Document on the Regional Single Window was mentioned, which includes the integration of licenses, permits, and SPS certificates.  
• The One-Stop Shop domain has worked on one-stop shop evaluation methodologies.

5. Importance of UN/CEFACT standards for electronic certification and interoperability

Simon Padilla, from the STDF, emphasized:

• STDF's work on electronic SPS certification and digitalization. 
• The importance of electronic certification to facilitate international trade.
• How interoperability can reduce technical barriers to trade: He emphasized the importance of interoperability between different electronic certification platforms and other trade document digitization systems, highlighting the need for systems that work in an integrated manner.  
• A new project funded by the STDF in collaboration with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) is to develop a system for the production and exchange of electronic veterinary certificates, integrating them into Single Windows. He explained that the project will focus on the Americas, with the goal of expanding to other regions in the future, in collaboration with the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).  
• The complexity of veterinary certification due to the existence of a wide variety of certificate types.

6. Questions and answers

Rodrigo Robles moderated the final session, reading questions previously submitted by participants. The experts addressed questions about:

• Strategies to accelerate the adoption of UN/CEFACT standards.
• Challenges in implementing digital solutions.
• Opportunities to strengthen international cooperation in the agri-food sector.

7.Conclusion

UN/CEFACT reaffirmed its commitment to serving countries by developing and maintaining international standards, recommendations, and guidance materials to facilitate e-commerce, ensure systems interoperability, and reduce technical barriers to trade. The meeting highlighted the importance of expert participation to boost technical capacity and multisectoral engagement in standardization initiatives in the agriculture, fisheries, and agri-food sectors.

8. Answers to five questions from the audience

8.1. What new requirements exist or could exist in international trade regarding Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in animals intended for the production of food or animal protein?

This question is considered outside the scope of UN/CEFACT, as the organization focuses on trade documentation, data harmonization, and procedural efficiency, not public health or agricultural policy. Requirements related to AMR in animals fall under the purview of organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

8.2. What are the implications of non-compliance at the merchant, country, or regional level?

It is also considered outside the scope of UN/CEFACT. While it develops standards, the implications of non-compliance (legal and economic) are addressed by national regulators or bodies such as the WTO.

8.3. What is the level of adoption of these standards in Latin American countries?

UN/CEFACT actively monitors the regional implementation of its standards. For example, countries such as Mexico, Chile, and Costa Rica have adopted UN/CEFACT tools to simplify trade documentation and Single Window systems. The average implementation rate in Latin America is estimated at 69% (2017), with Mexico leading the way (92%).

8.4. Should international trade portals and regional integration policies integrate these standards to exchange data and documents between countries?

This is a central objective of UN/CEFACT. Its standards (such as UN/EDIFACT and the Single Window) are designed for interoperability in regional trading systems.

8.5. Progress in the development of the animal health standard?

This question could be considered outside the scope of UN/CEFACT, as animal health standards are developed by the WHO. However, the WHO has used the UN/CEFACT SPS e-Cert standard as the basis for mapping seven international veterinary certificates. It is suggested to consult the WHO health codes for updates.

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1. World Bank. (2020). Future foodscapes: Re-imagining agriculture in Latin America and the Caribbean. World Bank Group. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/159291604953162277/pdf/Future-Foodscapes-Re-imagining-Agriculture-in-Latin-America-and-the-Caribbean.pdf