Phytosanitary certification is used to attest that consignments meet
phytosanitary import requirements and is undertaken by an NPPO. A phytosanitary
certificate for export or for re-export 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 Plant Protection and
Quarantine US designated NPPO - Plant Protection
and Quarantine maintains the export program for the United States exporters
of United States and foreign-origin agricultural commodities. The export
program does not require certification of any exports, but does provide
certification of commodities as a service to United States exporters.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Plant Protection and
Quarantine 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. After assessing the phytosanitary condition of the
commodities intended for export, an ACO issues these internationally recognized
phytosanitary certificates: PPQ Form 577, Phytosanitary Certificate
PPQ Form 579, Phytosanitary Certificate for Reexport
Authorized Certification Official A public officer who is authorized by
the National Plant Protection organization and accredited for the
signing of phytosanitary certificates, who 1)possesses the required education,
experience, and training; and 2) has written confirmation of having
successfully passed an approved examination. [NAPPO, 2004].
Export Certification Specialists The USDA APHIS PPQ Export Certification
Specialists are responsible for maintaining the quality and credibility
of Phytosanitary Exports Certification. Additional questions regarding the
export program may be directed to the Export Certification Specialist in your
State or the State of export. PCIT - Phytosanitary Certificate
Issuance and Tracking System The USDA APHIS PPQ issues Phytosanitary
Certificates for export via the PCIT Phytosanitary Certificate Issuance and
Tracking System. This is a program that tracks the inspection of agricultural
products and certifies compliance with statutory and regulatory plant health
standards of importing countries. This capability provides APHIS/PPQ better
security, reporting functions, and monitoring capabilities for exported
commodities. See also
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service International Plant Protection
Convention Phytosanitary Certificate Issuance and
Tracking System References
ISPM 12. 2001. Guidelines for phytosanitary certificates. Rome, IPPC,
FAO. "International Plant Protection
Convention | Protecting the world's plant resources from pests". ippc.int.
Retrieved 2014-02-16. "USDA APHIS | Imports & Exports".
aphis.usda.gov. Retrieved 2014-02-16. "USDA APHIS | Imports & Exports".
aphis.usda.gov. Retrieved 2014-02-16. Bruce Attavian. "Export Program Manual".
USDA. Retrieved 16 February 2014. "Welcome to PCIT!". pcit.aphis.usda.gov.
Retrieved 2014-02-16. "USDA APHIS | Imports & Exports".
aphis.usda.gov. Retrieved 2014-02-16.