APHIS to Extend Policy on Electronic Phytosanitary Certificates in DIS Until Sept. 30
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will continue to accept electronic copies of phytosanitary certificates and forms until Sept. 30, the agency told the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America in a letter dated Feb. 3 and subsequently released by the NCBFAA. APHIS has been accepting the electronic copies through CBP’s Document Image System as a measure to mitigate COVID-19 disruptions, and had been set to end the policy prior to an NCBFAA letter asking for an extension sent in mid-January (see 2201180050).
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APHIS “will re-evaluate the situation by July 2022 to determine if a further extension is necessary,” the letter said. “In the meantime, we look forward to your cooperation as we achieve broader acceptance of our ePhyto program with importers and foreign governments,” the agency told the NCBFAA. APHIS had been set to end the policy of accepting electronic submissions at the beginning of the year, before delaying until March 31 (see 2112290032).