The Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism (MTTI), working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), has launched an Export ePhytosanitary Certificate (ePhyto) service on TTBizLink, which became fully operational on October 1.
The ministries say the digital upgrade will make cross-border agricultural trade faster, more transparent, fully traceable and paperless, improving the ease of doing business in Trinidad and Tobago.
Exporters can now apply for, process and track ePhytos entirely online. By entering their information into the system in advance, they are expected to cut processing time per certificate by about 60 per cent, from 30 minutes to 12 minutes per application.
Trinidad and Tobago has also integrated with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Hub, allowing ePhyto certificates to be transmitted securely and directly to customs and quarantine authorities around the world.
The Plant Quarantine Service (PQS) processes about 100 phytosanitary certificates a month, or nearly 1,200 a year. The ministries say the new system will let PQS issue pest-free certifications with greater speed and security, supporting national non-energy export targets.
The service covers a wide range of exported goods, including ornamental plants, fruit plants, vegetative planting material, seeds for propagation, re-exported peas and beans, lumber, fresh produce and plant parts for scientific research. It is available to farmers, commercial nurseries, wood-based manufacturers, research institutions, re-exporters and individual travellers shipping or carrying regulated agricultural goods.
Exporters are reminded that phytosanitary certification is still guided by the import permit conditions of the destination country, and anyone requesting an ePhyto certificate must present a valid import permit from the importing jurisdiction.
The ministries said the upgrade advances MTTI’s work to improve the ease of doing business and expand non-energy exports, helping local producers fulfil overseas orders with less time spent on paperwork.