U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) issued CSMS message #50385642 advising the trade that, after December 31st, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will ONLY accept original phytosanitary certificates and forms.
During the height of the pandemic, APHIS allowed importers to upload these forms, but soon will no longer allow that practice. PPQ and CBP will continue to accept digital exchange of electronic phytosanitary certificates through the ePhyto system—a government-to-government sharing of electronic phytosanitary certificates.
Acceptable phytosanitary certificates include:
- Certificates created through a participating country’s ePhyto system, or signed paper forms.
- Acceptable foreign site certificates of inspection and/or treatment include signed paper forms, signed copies of the master PPQ Form 203, and digitally signed electronic PPQ Form 203s.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Willson International U.S. Regulatory Team at 716.260.1580 Option 4 or email transitionus@willsonintl.com