NCBFAA Urges APHIS to Continue Accepting Copies of Phyto Certs
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America issued a letter on Jan. 14 urging the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to continue accepting copies of phytosanitary certificates to the agency's Document Image System. APHIS twice has extended its temporary policy of accepting copies -- most recently from Jan. 1 to March 31 (see 2112290032) -- which is in place to mitigate challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. "Shuffling thousands of pieces of paper through the supply chain in an otherwise electronic system never made sense in the best of times," the trade group said. "In the current chaos, the prospect is alarming."
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The letter goes on to note that the ePhyto system for sending electronic phytosanitary certificates government-to-government is a useful alternative but one that is limited both by participating countries and because the system is "relatively new" and "not fully understood." It notes that failing to accept phytosanitary certificate copies, the agency is only creating "more chaos" rather than providing incentive for use of the ePhyto system. "We suggest that the extension continue at least through 2022 and, ideally, until all major trading partners are participating in the e-phyto system and the trade in these countries better understands how to use the system," the NCBFAA said.