Export Certificate
The FSCF PTIN has been working towards regulatory cooperation in export certificates since 2010 by holding a number of workshops and roundtables to align approaches in the APEC region. In 2013, regulatory cooperation on export certificates was included in the FSCF Regulatory Cooperation Roadmap. There is currently an electronic working group that meets to discuss export certificate issues and is looking at electronic certification issues.
In addition the APEC Wine Regulatory Forum has been pursuing work on export certificates in wine trade over the last several years. In May 2016, a model certificate for wine was endorsed by all APEC members and provides a common certificate for use by all APEC economies.
Dairy Export Certification Workshop
October 20, 2018 - Brisbane, Australia
Varied and burdensome certification requirements for dairy exports among APEC economies increase transaction costs and consumer prices. A U.S.-sponsored workshop is proposed to promote an exchange of views among regulators, policy-makers and the business community on dairy certification requirements and to explore a sector-specific approach to FSCF work on export certificates, with development of a model dairy certificate as a test case. The project aims to promote communication and information exchange among dairy regulators on factors to be considered before making the decision to implement requirements for an official certificate, and to explore a sector-specific approach to FSCF work on export certificates, by establishing a pilot working group to develop model dairy certificate attestations for voluntary adoption as appropriate by APEC economies, should their food safety regulations require official certificates.
Export Certification Workshop and Survey
October 18-19, 2018 - Brisbane, Australia
To continue the work of the FSCF Regulatory Roadmap on Export Certificates that began in 2013 and the 2017 Export Certificate Workshop in Hanoi, the U.S. is proposing a two-day export certificate workshop, focusing on eliminating unnecessary duplicative requirements. The plan is for participants to discuss the legitimate basis for new export certificate requirements, the use of good regulatory practices, and related trade obligations under the WTO SPS and TBT. The workshop will build on previously discussed topics such as assurances that can be provided by commercial documents and addressing the problem of fraudulent food shipments and operationalizing use of model certificates based on risk. Participants will also be asked to fill out a survey about what certificates they require in relation to food imports and exports, which can then be used by other APEC member nations.
Export Certificate Workshop
May 9-10, 2017 - Hanoi, Viet Nam
The PTIN is working to streamline, consolidate, and eliminate unnecessary export certificates in the region to facilitate trade of safe food products. This workshop, led by the United States and continuing work ongoing since 2009, aimed to reduce duplicative certificates and certificates not essential for food safety, with the goal of lowering compliance related costs affecting both industries and governments.
To learn more about the effort to streamline export certificate requirements, good practices, and useful resources, take a look at the Export Certificate Brochure.
FSCF Roadmaps for Regulatory Cooperation in Export Certificates and Pesticide Maximum Residue Limits Draft Roadmaps to FSCF by July 1, 2013
April 2013 - Surabaya, Indonesia
In Surabaya in April 2013, the FSCF endorsed moving forward with a Regulatory Cooperation Plan to develop roadmaps to identify ways to move forward with regulatory cooperation in two areas: Export Certificates and Pesticide Maximum Residue Limits. Working groups were formed to identify draft roadmaps for FSCF endorsement. The export certificate work will be led by Australia and the United States with working group members from Peru, Thailand, Mexico, Brunei, Canada, Papua New Guinea, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, and the Wine Regulators Forum. The pesticide MRL work will be led by Australia and China with working group members from United States, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, and the Wine Regulators Forum. The FSCF endorsed the following roadmap in September 2013 to guide future work.
Export Certificate Workshop
April 24-25, 2012 - Greenbelt, Maryland
The PTIN Export Certification Workshop was held on April 24-25 in Greenbelt, Maryland. This workshop built on outcomes from an FSCF PTIN Export Certification Roundtable held in February 2010 in Australia on the margins of Codex CCFICS meetings where best practices for the appropriate use of export certificates were identified. The working group discussed Codex guidance and use of Codex model certificates, discussed criteria for determining when a food or agricultural certificate should or should not be required, discussed appropriate use of export certificate attestations and encouraged use of electronic certificates.
Export Certification Roundtable
February 25-26, 2010 - Queensland, Australia
This Roundtable was held immediately preceding the Eighteenth session of the CODEX Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS). The event attracted over 70 experts from across the APEC region; 70 percent represented APEC Member Economies and 30 percent represented food manufactures or associations. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) partnered with Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the University of Maryland’s Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN) to sponsor this event.