A. General Information
Electronic exchange of SPS between Australia and New Zealand
B. Lessons Learned
Australia transition to a paperless eCert exchange with New Zealand by adopting a SPS-eCert system in which SPS-Certificates are exchanged directly from government bodies to government bodies via their electronic SPS certificate management systems.
Effective 31 August 2020, Australia has transitioned the current eCert exchange with New Zealand to a paperless eCert exchange. This means NZ will no longer issue original paper phytosanitary or sanitary certificates. The NZ exporter will provide importers and brokers with the certificate number, which must be provided to the department (Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment). The department will receive the eCert and will assess the eCert where required for import clearance.
The eCert application is an electronic system that enables the department to receive overseas government certificates in a digital format. This includes phytosanitary and sanitary certificates for food and agricultural imports. If the electronic certificate has been lodged correctly, importers (exporters) and brokers should not submit a paper certificate, as the eCert received by the department and will be used for customs clearance.
e-CERT SPS-Certificates are exchanged directly from government bodies to government bodies via their electronic SPS certificate management systems, National Single Windows. This approach has been used for example by New Zealand, Australia.Australia’s exchange of phyto e-certificates with New Zealand is occurring outside of the ePhyto Hub, with the intention to transition these to the hub from 30 September 2020.
To ensure compliance to health, sanitary requirements of exporting and importing country
Facilitate quarantine compliance and control fraud
Trade facilitation, cross border efficiencies with advanced information, reusable data.
Electronic application and issuance of SPS certificate
Electronic SPS exchange
Electronic verification of import quarantine
e-Cert SPS certificates are exchanged directly from government bodies to government bodies via their electronic SPS certificate management systems, national single windows.
Electronic exchange of sanitary and phytosanitary certificates
Digital technologies require careful planning, analysis, and investment
Need for a clear and enabling legal framework
Capacity and capability to adopt digital technologies is mixed
Digital technologies can give rise to trust concerns regarding data
Certificates are transferred securely between governments, reducing the opportunity for fraudulent certificates to be presented
Provides an instant connection with other government agencies, reducing time delays for certificates to be issued and/or replaced
Helps eliminate lost and illegible documents
Certificates are transmitted in a consistent digital format
Certificates provide assurance that goods being imported comply with food safety, animal and plant health requirements
Reduces reliance on paper, in line with international standards – ultimate goal of eCert is paperless trading
Provides prior notice of imports, which could be used for pre-clearance of goods
Seamless interface for industry clients
Improved efficiency and integrity for staff assessing certificates.
Australia’s exchange of phyto e-certificates with New Zealand is occurring outside of the ePhyto Hub, with the intention to transition these to the hub from 30 September 2020.