Phytosanitary certification verifies phytosanitary worthiness (

plant health Plant health includes the protection of plants, as well as scientific and regulatory frameworks for controlling plant pests or pathogens. Plant health is concerned with: * Ecosystem health with a special focus on plants * Tree health *The control o ...

). These certificates are used to attest that

consignment Consignment is a process whereby a person gives permission to another party to take care of their property while retaining full ownership of the property until the item is sold to the final buyer. It is generally done during auctions, shipping, ...

s meet phytosanitary

import An importer is the receiving country in an export from the sending country. Importation and exportation are the defining financial transactions of international trade. Import is part of the International Trade which involves buying and receivin ...

requirements and are undertaken by a National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO). Under the

Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, also known as the SPS Agreement or just SPS, is an international treaty of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It was negotiated during the Uruguay Round of the General Agree ...

and ISPM, a certificate for

export An export in international trade is a good produced in one country that is sold into another country or a service provided in one country for a national or resident of another country. The seller of such goods or the service provider is a ...

or for

re-export Re-exportation, also called entrepot trade, is a form of international trade in which a country exports goods which it previously imported without altering them. One such example could be when one member of a free trade agreement charges lower t ...

can be issued only by a public officer who is technically qualified and duly authorized by an NPPO. A phytosanitary certificate for export is usually issued by the NPPO of the country where the plants, plant products, or regulated articles were grown or processed. Phytosanitary certificates are issued to indicate that consignments of plants, plant products or other regulated articles meet specified phytosanitary import requirements and are in conformity with the certifying statement of the appropriate model certificate. Phytosanitary certificates should only be issued for this purpose.

USDA, APHIS, and PPQ

The US designated NPPO

Plant Protection and Quarantine Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) is one of six operational program units within the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The PPQ works to safeguard agriculture and natural re ...

(PPQ) maintains the export program for the United States exporters of United States-origin and foreign-origin agricultural commodities. The export program does not require certification of any exports, but does provide certification of

commodities In economics, a commodity is an economic good, usually a resource, that specifically has full or substantial fungibility: that is, the market treats instances of the good as equivalent or nearly so with no regard to who produced them. Th ...

as a service to United States exporters.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) based in Riverdale Park, Maryland, Riverdale, Maryland responsible for protecting animal health, animal welfare, and plant h ...

(APHIS) and its Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) are responsible for safeguarding agriculture and natural resources from the risks associated with the entry, establishment, or spread of animal and plant pests and noxious weeds. Phytosanitary certification is provided as a service to U.S. applicants based on the phytosanitary requirements of foreign countries. The APHIS will not issue a phytosanitary certificate for Wood Packaging Material (WPM) such as pallets or crates used in the transport of commodities. If the WPM is the cargo, only then can a phytosanitary certificate be issued. After assessing the phytosanitary condition of the commodities intended for export, an Authorized Certification Official (ACO) issues these internationally recognized phytosanitary certificates: * PPQ Form 577, Phytosanitary Certificate * PPQ Form 579, Phytosanitary Certificate for Reexport

Authorized Certification Official (ACO)

A public officer who is authorized by the National Plant Protection organization (NPPO) and accredited for the signing of phytosanitary certificates, who 1) possesses the required education, experience, and training; and 2) has written confirmation of having passed an approved examination. (RSPM No. 8, Accreditation) APPO, 2004

Export Certification Specialists

The USDA APHIS PPQ Export Certification Specialists are responsible for maintaining the quality and credibility of the U.S. Export Program.

Phytosanitary Certificate Issuance & Tracking (PCIT)

The USDA / APHIS / PPQ issues Phytosanitary Certificates for export via the PCIT system. PCIT tracks the inspection of products and certifies compliance with plant health standards of importing countries. This capability provides the USDA/APHIS/PPQ with greater

fraud In law, fraud is intent (law), intentional deception to deprive a victim of a legal right or to gain from a victim unlawfully or unfairly. Fraud can violate Civil law (common law), civil law (e.g., a fraud victim may sue the fraud perpetrato ...

prevention, reporting functions, and monitoring capabilities.

References

* * * * * * {{USDA Quarantine Pest control Phytopathology

USDA, APHIS, and PPQ

Authorized Certification Official (ACO)

Export Certification Specialists

Phytosanitary Certificate Issuance & Tracking (PCIT)

See also

References