For both import and export of plants and plant materials to and from more and more countries, you will use electronic phytosanitary certificates. These certificates are referred to as ePhyto (sometimes also called e-fyto or e-Phyto). This digitization has several consequences for both import and export.
Exchanging Phytosanitary Certificates
Phytosanitary certificates are health declarations with which the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of the country of dispatch declares the phytosanitary status of the consignment described on the certificate to the NPPO of the destination country.
From Paper to Electronic
This exchange has always been done via a paper certificate that was present with the consignment. However, increasingly this information is exchanged electronically via an electronic certificate (ePhyto) between NPPOs. In that case, an electronic signature is placed on the certificate, and the certificate is sent electronically to the relevant NPPO. Therefore, no official paper phytosanitary certificate is included with the consignment during electronic exchange.
Hybrid Transition Period
ePhyto for exports from the Netherlands to third countries has been first implemented for Great Britain. Norway will follow on March 3, 2025. We first make agreements with other countries. For imports, more countries recognized by the EU are authorized to issue ePhyto, some of which also send actual ePhyto, while others still send paper phytosanitary certificates.
Unfortunately, it is currently not possible to send an ePhyto for all situations for export to a third country. For example, for the seed sector, ePhyto cannot yet be sent because not everything has been arranged in e-CertNL. Additionally, not all countries can issue and receive ePhyto yet.
As a result, there is a hybrid transition period. During this period, you may encounter multiple types of certificates. Especially in the case of re-export, where an import certificate from the country of origin must be added to the Dutch certificate. Multiple types are possible:
- ePhyto. An XML data file exchanged between NPPOs with an electronic signature. This is the official certificate.
- Digital statement. A more readable version of the content of the ePhyto. This is also called a statement. It is not an official document and therefore is not certified.
- Paper certificates. The current template of the certificate (printed on value paper and signed and stamped). This is used as long as the exchange of ePhyto is not possible.
For some countries, alongside the paper certificates, ePhyto are also issued during a testing phase. For this exchange, it is still important to send the paper FC with the consignment.
Great Britain
Only for exports to Great Britain, in addition to the ePhyto, a digitally signed phytosanitary certificate is temporarily created instead of the digital statement. This is the current sealed pdf: The full certificate in a digitally signed pdf file.
No ePhyto for Complex Mixtures
Also, for complex mixtures, ePhyto cannot yet be issued. These are consignments consisting of parties from different products. For example, a batch of flower seeds made up of seeds from different types of flowers, mixed bouquets, or fruit baskets. An international solution still needs to be found for this.
When the mix consists of products of the same name, but where, for example, only the origin of the different raw materials differs, an ePhyto can be produced.
Falling Back on Paper
If the issuance of ePhyto is not possible, a paper phytosanitary certificate will be created for most countries. E-CertNL makes this choice based on the entered information; an exporter does not need to and cannot make this choice themselves. At the moment when full digital exchange between countries is possible, the hybrid system will cease to exist. From that moment on, only ePhyto will be sent between these countries. If there are problems with creating or sending ePhyto, there is a fallback option to paper certificates.
Using ePhyto for Export
Read more about ePhyto for export. And what this means for your application in e-CertNL.
Using ePhyto for Import
Read more about ePhyto for import. And view the countries recognized by the EU to issue ePhyto for consignments destined for the EU.
More Information
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