Three key points: 1) Electronic SPS certification involves the secure electronic transmission of sanitary and phytosanitary certificates from the exporting country's competent authority to the importing country's authority. This allows for integrity, efficiency, and security compared to paper certificates. 2) While electronic certification brings benefits, uptake has been slower than desired in developing countries due to challenges like lack of ICT infrastructure, need for legislative and standards harmonization, and high costs of establishing systems. 3) Before implementing electronic certification, countries should assess readiness, potential benefits and costs, consult stakeholders, and conduct feasibility analyses. Implementation should start with pilots and transitions to gain experience before fully replacing paper certificates.

1. Automation of procedures in agricultural
trade: basic concepts and implementation
issues
Dr Kenza Le Mentec
World Trade Organization
Regional workshop on the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement’s impact on agri-food trade
May 30-June 1, Odessa, Ukraine

2. Customs
4 to 9
docs
Additional documents and requirements for agrifood trade
(1) Commercial Invoices ; (2) Packing List (3) Bills of Lading
(4) Sea Waybills / Air Waybills / House Air Waybill
(5) Certificate of Origin
(6) Import / Export Declaration
(7) Import / Export Licence
Customs
Export-Import business processes
Health certificates (food safety
certificates/ Veterinary
certificates) with testing proof,
as required
Phytosanitary certificates with
testing proof, as required
(treatment certificates, testing
certificates)
Conformity certificate with
marketing standards of the
importing country
Extracted from: Presentation of J. Koh (STDF Seminar on e-cert), 2016

3. Role of SPS certification
SPS certificates are used to attest that consignments
meet the import requirements.
YET
Fraudulent SPS certificates are still a major concern in
international trade:
 Undermine the reputation of the competent authority of the
exporting country
 Enhance the risk of spreading of pests and diseases

4. What is an electronic SPS certificate?
Electronic SPS Certification is the authenticated, non-repudiative and secure
electronic transmission of sanitary and phytosanitary certification data,
including the certifying statement, from the competent authority of the
exporting country to the competent authority of the importing country.
E-cert
EXPORTING COUNTRY
COMPETENT AUTHORITY
IMPORTING COUNTRY
COMPETENT AUTHORITY
Certification process
Inspection procedure,
testing,…
Import procedures
Inspection,
release,…
Sending
certificate
Receiving
certificate
Extracted from: Presentation of J. Koh (STDF Seminar on e-cert), 2016

5. ePhyto: one of the SPS certification

6. ePhyto: XML schema

7. Advantages of electronic certification
Integrity
Efficiency
Security &
compliance
Productivity
• Online application and processing
• Faster processing through pre-validation
• Faster processing cuts clearance time
• Very difficult to forge
• Improved compliance with policies and procedures
• Online verification for third parties / importing nations
• Single view of all relevant information
• Searchable database with all certificates
• Simple maintenance of forms
• Electronically secured certificates
• Cross-checking in real time
• Single national register of certificates
Extracted from: Presentation of J. Koh (STDF Seminar on e-cert), 2016

8. Automation of SPS certificates: the
situation worldwide
• Electronic certification is mainly driven by gains in efficiency on the import side (risk-
based controls-scheduling inspections, etc.) => developing countries tend to be more
prominent on the issuing side than on the receiving side.
• So far several developing countries have adopted it for a certain type of products only
=> need to expand
• The progress in adoption is faster for plant products due to the existence of a more
standardize phytosanitary certificate.
• Few developing countries have already integrated SPS certificates in the National Single
Window
• Very few paperless exchanges are in place worldwide

9. Why is the uptake slower than desired?
• Implementation of electronic certificates requires a mature SPS system (clear
roles and responsibilities, good governance at all levels, standard operating
procedures in place, robust conformity assessment system, etc.) => Many
developing countries are not yet at that stage:
– Update of legislative frameworks is necessary in many developing countries (recognizing electronic
certificates equivalent to paper-based, regulating fee-payment, defining authentication
requirements, etc.)
– Lack of political goodwill (sometimes buy-in at top level, BUT resistance of mid-level
management);
– Weak ICT infrastructure in agencies in charge of SPS matters;
• Lack of standardized certificates (especially for food and veterinary) and
exchange protocols =>Considerable investment required to negotiate and implement
non-standard data requirements
• High costs of establishing a system (possible solutions turnkey systems payment
on usage development assistance?) => no incentive for the private sector
• Lack of collaboration framework between relevant national agencies (Inter-
agency competition)

10. What steps should be followed before
starting implementation?
• Assess your readiness: conduct an SPS import/export business process analysis
=> What are the changes required in the way of doing things?
=> What would be the cost of business process re-engineering?
• Assess potential benefits: what is the size of my current user base? Are their sizeable
cost-efficiencies to be realized by streamlining business processes (e.g. re-allocate staff to
other functions)?
• Consult with stakeholder: assess acceptance by smallholders, explain real gains vs. what
may change
• Conduct a feasibility analysis cost-benefit assessment: Based on the information above,
assess the feasibility of implementation
• Establish a sustainable cost recovery mechanism
• Implement step-by-step: Include a pilot phase, a transition phase and a fall-back plan =>
paperless exchange occurs after confidence is gained with electronic certification

11. Thank you for your attention
Kenza Le Mentec
e-mail: Kenza.lementec@wto.org