Phytosanitary Certificate: A phytosanitary certificate is a document that is used when exporting regulated goods such as plants, plant-related products and other articles that are regulated by a country’s government. Such certificates are required if the articles have the potential to introduce invasive pests or diseases into a foreingn country.
Who Issues a Phytosanitary Certificate?
Phytosanitary certificates are issued by officers from departments which are authorized by the National Plant Protection Agency (NPPO). The agency’s primary goal is to ensure that pests and diseases are not introduced into the country of import. This is because the introduction of a foreign pest or a disease can wreak havoc on a country’s endemic species. This can have far reaching consequences on a country’s ecology as well as its economy.
Why do you Need a Phytosanitary Certificate?
Phytosanitary certificates are often a legal requirement if a business wishes to import certain articles. As stated above, some of these articles have the potential to disrupt a nation’s agriculture, ecology and economy. Hence, restrictions are kept in place to ensure such untoward incidents do not occur. Furthermore, if the phytosanitary certificate is not produced during the time of import, it is unlikely that it will clear customs. In a nutshell, phytosanitary certificate is needed for:
- Attesting that the plant or plant produce meets the phytosanitary requirements of the country of import.
- This certificate may also be required for re-export to other countries.
In this article, we shall explore more about phytosanitary certificates, its application process templates, and samples.
Phytosanitary Certificate Application Process
The importer of the goods will need to procure a phytosanitary certificate before the shipment arrives, else the shipment will not be cleared through customs. The importer will have to contact the country’s relevant department and apply for the same. The application process involves inspecting the exporter’s facility and ensuring that it complies with strict hygiene standards. Moreover, most government departments enable the shippers to apply online.
In India, the function of authorizing and issuing phytosanitary certificates falls under Plant Quarantine Information System, Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmer Welfare (or any other individual duly authorized on their behalf). These includes:
- Andhra Pradesh – The Officer-in-charge, Plant Quarantine Station, the Harbour, Visakhapatnam
- Arunachal Pradesh – Seed Testing Officer, Seed Testing Laboratory, Sonajuli
- Assam – The Officer-in-Charge, Plant Quarantine Station, Guwahati
- Chhattisgarh – Joint Director (PP), Deptt. Of Agriculture, Directorate of Agriculture, Raipur
- Goa – The Officer-in-Charge, CIPMC, Madgaon
- Gujarat – The Officer-in-charge, Plant Quarantine Station, 25-A, Haryana Plot, Down Area, Bhavnagar
- Haryana – Joint Director of Agriculture, Deptt. Of Agriculture, Haryana
- Himachal Pradesh – Head (Plant Pathology), Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla
- Jammu and Kashmir – Director of Agriculture, Kashmir, Srinagar
- Karnataka – The Officer-in-charge, Central Integrated Pest Management Centre “Jaivik Bhavan” Kannamangala
- Kerala – The Officer-in-charge, Plant Quarantine Station, Willington Island, Cochin
Phytosanitary Certificate Application Form
Following is a copy of the application in the predetermined format. The application must be filled and sent to the authoritative officer in charge of the Plant Quarantine station at the designated airport or port.
| Link: https://agritech.tnau.ac.in/export_import/Phytosanitary%20Certificate%20Format.pdf |
Phytosanitary Certificate Important Documents
The following documents must be presented when applying for a phytosanitary certificate:
- Permit issued by the countries that are importing the consigned articles
- Invoice Copy
- Packing list
- Airway bill (if applicable)
- Shipping bill (if applicable)
- Trade agreement
- Letter of credit
- Export license
- Purchase order
- Fumigation certificate
- Export inspection fee
Phytosanitary Certificate Contents
Following are the contents of a phytosanitary certificate usually the following details:
- Name of the exporter’s organisation as well as their address and contact information
- Name of the consignee’s organisation, their address and contact information
- Country of origin
- Country of final destination
- Import permit number
- Declared entry point
- Means of travel (sea, air, road etc)
- Information about products in the shipment (such as the product’s name, botanical name, mass, number etc)
- Treatment details or additional details regarding the product
- Seal and signature of an authorized officer
Phytosanitary Certificate Articles Covered
Phytosanitary certificates are required for the following products:
- Plants
- Tubers
- Seeds (for propagation)
- Fruits and vegetative,
- Cut flowers
- Processed plant products (example: wood/ cotton)
Phytosanitary Certificate Types
Phytosanitary certificates are categorized into two types.
- Export-oriented Phytosanitary Certificate
- Re-export oriented Phytosanitary Certificate
Export-oriented Phytosanitary Certificate, as the name implies, this certificate is mandatory for export purposes. It is usually issued by the NPPO of the country of origin.
Re-export-oriented Phytosanitary Certificate is used for the purpose of re-exportation. This certificate will also be issued by the NPPO of the re-exporting country.
The validity of the Certificate and Application Timeline
- The certificate is valid for a period of 7 days for perishable goods and 30 days for non-perishable goods.
- The applicant must apply at least 2-3 days before the consignment is shipped. If for export purposes, then the application needs to be filled 8-10 days before the scheduled date of shipment.
FAQ’s on Phytosanitary Certificate
Question 1.
What is a Phytosanitary Certificate?
Answer:
A phytosanitary certificate is a document that is used when exporting regulated goods such as plants, plant-related products and other articles that are regulated by a country’s government.
Question 2.
Who provides a phytosanitary certificate?
Answer:
These certificates are issued by specially appointed individuals from various departments which are authorized by the NPPO (National Plant Protection Agency).
Question 3.
What is the validity of the phytosanitary certificate?
Answer:
Please ensure that the certificates are made ready before the arrival of the consignments, else it may not be cleared at customs. Depending on the type of goods, the certificate is valid for a period of 7 days for perishable goods and 30 days for non-perishable goods.
Question 4.
What are the contents present in a phytosanitary certificate?
Answer:
A phytosanitary certificate usually includes the following details: name, address and contact details of the exporter as well as the consignee. The country of origin of the goods and its country of final destination. Declared entry point and means of travel, import and information about products in the shipment. Additional details are provided and lastly, the seal and signature of an authorized officer are given.