2454 final report.pdf - Agra CEAS Consulting

Evaluation of the Community Plant Health Regime: Final Report
DG SANCO Evaluation Framework Contract Lot 3 (Food Chain)
exchanged on paper, although provision for electronic certification is included in the IPPC
(Art.V.2) and in ISPM No. 12 Guidelines for phytosanitary certificates (2001).
The Directive 2000/29/EC also indicates in Article 13(1)(ii) that ―[...] electronic certification
may be recognised, provided that the respective conditions specified in implementing provisions
are met.‖ However, several other obligations on imports (e.g. obligation to stamp the PC when
refusing a consignment at import) mean that electronic certification cannot in practice be used as
this obligation cannot be fulfilled without the paper document.
In 2005, an International Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM) Working Group on
Electronic Certification was established to formulate policy recommendations regarding
electronic certification. This WG identified benefits of electronic phytosanitary certification as
follows 116 ; phytosanitary certificates:
enhance levels of security against fraud or misuse;
improve fast and reliable communication directly between NPPOs;
improve readability and consistency of certificates;
enhance communication on import progress (tracking of import decisions, notification of
non-compliance);
ease downloading and integrating data into the existing systems;
allow data checking to be independent of physical location and time; and
enhance management of phytosanitary import systems (e.g. management of sampling
regimes, risk based inspections and the collection of statistical information).
Several countries have already started to implement such electronic systems and lessons can be
learnt from their experience, as discussed during the 2009 NAPPO 117 meeting, summarised as
follows:
Electronic exchange of data between NPPOs is significantly more efficient and secure than
paper phytosanitary certificates;
Considerable investment is required to deal with non-standardised data requirements;
Agreement on technology and method of implementation is critical between parties;
A strong bilateral approach is required to ensure that tightly coupled systems are
developed;
Contracting parties should agree on rules of engagement up-front (i.e. dealing with updates
to the systems, notification of system outages, handling support issues, etc.);
A transition period is essential (suggest at least 3 months be allowed).
The NL is a leading country in the development of these types of tools. It has developed a tool
called CLIENT which is being used for exports. The NL is a large trader of plants and plants
116 FAO- ICPM ( 2006) - Report of the working group on electronic certification – Agenda Item 12.7 of the
provisional agenda
117 Electronic Phytosanitary Certification Workshop Ottawa, Ontario - Canada - May 19-21, 2009
Food Chain Evaluation Consortium 104