1. The 3rd IPPC Global Symposium on ePhyto
ePhyto Overview
The 3rd IPPC Global Symposium on ePhyto
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
22nd January 2018

2. Contents
Background Progress Timeline (Next Steps)

3. Phytosanitary Certificates
Means by which national plant protection organizations communicate that a consignment meet phytosanitary import requirements Article IV (2) “The responsibilities … the issuance of certificates relating to the phytosanitary regulations of the importing contracting party…” Article V (3) “Each contracting party undertakes not to require consignments of plants or plant products or other regulated articles imported into its territories to be accompanied by phytosanitary certificates inconsistent with the models set out in the Annex to this Convention...”

4. Phytosanitary certificates
Model phytosanitary certificate (PC) and PC for re-export established in the Convention
ISPM 7 and 12 provide guidance on issuance of PCs and PCs for re-export
ISPM 7 Phytosanitary certification system describes the components of a national system for the issuance of PCs
Topic added in 1994, standard adopted in 1997, revised in 2011
ISPM 12 Phytosanitary certificates describes the content and format of PCs
Electronic certificates described in Appendix 2

5. What is an ePhyto?
NOT a paper certificate
NOT a scanned certificate
Electronic equivalent of a paper phytosanitary certificate
Standardized XML schema (structure)

6. ePhyto
Phytosanitary certificate in XML format

8. Milestones in establishing the ePhyto Solution
2000s countries began developing/exchanging
2006 Workshop - Netherlands/2009 Workshop Canada
2011 – OEWG/Workshop, Korea
Appendix 1 approved
Bryant-Christie Study
2014/15 IPPC Secretariat seeks funding from STDF
2016 – Funding from STDF and donors advances the ePhyto Solution
2000’s countries began to develop electronic certification and exchange systems bilaterally
Improve efficiency
Facilitate trade
OEWG begins work on harmonized guidance
Appendix 1 adopted April 2014 – provides guidance on:
Format and contents of ePhytos
Mechanism for exchange
Harmonized codes and schema to be used in the certificate
CPM commissions study - Bryant-Christie concludes that a hub to exchange certificates would further benefit adoption.

9. Point to point systems

10. What is the ePhyto Solution?
Hub
System to facilitate exchange of ePhytos between NPPOs
GeNS
Generic ePhyto National System
web-based system to allow countries without their own systems to produce, send and receive ePhytos in the XML format (like a client-side)
Web service
Receiving / transferring of ePhytos
Reads header info only
Admin interface
Manage NPPO information
NPPO interface
Mechanism for guiding onboarding process
Technical tools (Schema, codes, etc.)
Confirm exchange
Data on transactions
Security protocols
TLS certificates
Authentication
Simple web-based system which:
Produces/receives ePhyto ( according to the IPPC XML format)
Transmits ePhyto to the hub under prescribed rules
Stores certificate data of produced and received e-certificates
Simple UI
Ability to be used in low bandwidth environment
System is Web based but accessible on desk top
Based on industry to NPPO Work Flows
Prints paper certificates for non-hub destination certificates

11. Important to note
That the NPPO authentication process provides verification that the message is authorized
The transfer is conducted by transport layer security which ensures that the message is transferred securely

12. Benefits Electronic Certificates ePhyto Solution
Reduced potential for fraud
Improved efficiencies by reduced data entry and validation
Improved security
Expedited clearance of commodities
Pre-arrival processing
ePhyto Solution
Globally harmonized approach
Expedite international trade
Eventually lead to paperless trade
Allow developing countries to participate equally
Removes bilateral agreements between NPPOs on the details of exchange
Potential to link with other e-systems (e.g. single window, other e-documents)

13. Solution components Hub GeNS Pilot Implementation guidance
Build complete
Hub
Build being initiated
GeNS
Hub pilot underway – expected complete by February 2018
Pilot
Development underway
Implementation guidance
Policy on use in draft
Business modelling/cost recovery – options being developed
Other components

14. Pilot Countries Hub GeNS Argentina Ghana Australia Samoa Chile
Sri Lanka
China
Ecuador
Kenya
Korea
Netherlands
New Zealand
USA

15. Hub Pilot Progress Commenced October 2017
8 of ten countries in various stages of implementing connection to hub
Some exchanging test certificates
Most expected to begin exchanges in the next few weeks
Evaluation of technical and non-technical elements of hub implementation:
Questionnaire
Help desk reporting

16. Contract for development/service operation
Timeline
Contract for development/service operation
Almost complete
Hub
Specifications: complete
System build: complete
Piloting: October 2017 –2nd Quarter 2018
Evaluation: 2nd /3rd Quarter 2018
Onboarding additional countries: 3rd Quarter 2018
GeNS
System development: 1st Quarter – 2nd Quarter 2018
Piloting: Mid 2018 – 3rd/4th Quarter 2018
Evaluate pilot: 4th Quarter 2018
Onboarding additional countries: End 2018/2019

17. Timeline Implementation Guidance Business model
Evaluate existing tools for BPA and change management – complete
Work with partners to develop tools to support implementation: underway – End 2019
Business model
Evaluate other cost recovery approaches – complete
Establish working group to evaluate benefits of approaches - October 2017
Review recommendations and evaluate outcomes from pilot – early 2019
Establish recommendation for consideration by CPM (governing body) – 2019

18. Shane Sela ePhyto Project Manager IPPC Secretariat shane.sela@fao.org
Thank you!
Shane Sela ePhyto Project Manager IPPC Secretariat