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The Philippines and Indonesia have successfully conducted the exchange of electronic phytosanitary certificate through the ASEAN Single Window
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The Philippines started exchanging e-Phyto certificate with Indonesia on June 10, 2024 using the BOC Electronic Phytosanitary Management Portal
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Thailand targets to start the exchange with the Philippines by end of this month
The Philippines and Indonesia have successfully conducted the exchange of electronic phytosanitary (e- Phyto) certificate through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Single Window, according to the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
The Philippines started exchanging e-Phyto certificate with Indonesia on June 10, 2024 using the BOC Electronic Phytosanitary (e-Phyto) Management Portal, the bureau said in a statement.
Aside from Indonesia, Thailand targets to start the exchange with the Philippines by the end of this month.
“This initiative not only enhances trade efficiency but also strengthens economic ties among member states, paving the way for a more unified and prosperous ASEAN region,” Customs commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said.
The pilot exchange of e-Phyto with Indonesia and Thailand was agreed on by BOC and the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) last year. BOC earlier said this initiative aims to promote the adoption of digital systems for the issuance and verification of phytosanitary certificates, which will help ensure efficient, reliable, and secure trade in agricultural products within the region.
READ: PH to join pilot exchange of e-Phyto certificates in ASEAN
An e-Phyto certificate is the electronic equivalent of the paper phytosanitary certificate and guarantees that a plant or plant product for export is free from pests and diseases, and conforms to other phytosanitary requirements by the importing country.
BOC’s e-Phyto portal has access to the e-Phyto certificates issued by BPI, the country’s official National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO), as well as to e-Phyto certificates issued by the respective NPPOs of exporting countries.
In October 2022, BPI relaunched its e-Phyto system that allows exporters to apply for phytosanitary certificates online and enable the Philippines to exchange e-Phyto certificates with other trading countries and eventually do away with paper versions.
The implementation of the e-Phyto is in compliance with the global initiative under the International Plant Protection Convention, a multilateral treaty deposited with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and recognized by the World Trade Organization (WTO), which the Philippines is a member of. It also complies with the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.
Aside from e-Phyto exchange, BOC said it will continuously collaborate with ASEAN counterparts to support its priority program on conducting the Study of the New Generation of the ASW, including the implementation of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement e-Form D, ASEAN Customs Declaration Document, the Generic Customs Response, and exchanges with dialogue partners.
The ASW is the regional initiative to speed up cargo clearance and promote regional economic integration by enabling the electronic exchange of border documents among the 10 ASEAN member states.
