IPPC OEWG on Electronic Certification Workshop, 7-10 June 2011, Seoul, Republic of Korea
The Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on IPPC Phytosanitary e-Certification's was convened in Seoul, Republic of Korea, from Tuesday 07 June to Friday 10 June, 2011. OEWG discussed and established a work programme to seek agreement on an International Plant Protection e-Certification standard for inclusion in ISPM 12.
Electronic phytosanitary certification is the authenticated and secure electronic transmission of phytosanitary certification data, including the certifying statement, from the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of the exporting country to the NPPO of the importing country. It was being developed on a on a bilateral basis as a possible alternative to traditional paper certificates. However, without harmonized international guidance, the possible systems for certification was extensive. The OEWG objectives were:
- To determine the standardized contents (data elements) of the electronic phytosanitary certificate.
- To determine the standardized process of a secure and authentic transmission of the electronic phytosanitary certificate from an exporting NPPO to an importing NPPO.
- To determine how to get the standardized elements of electronic phytosanitary certification accepted and widely used.
- To determine how to make the standardized elements of electronic phytosanitary certification available to all NPPOs.
- To determine the necessary elements for a smooth transition from paper to electronic certificates.
- To establish a work program and organize an international forum for 2011-2012 to face all challenges identified during the meeting, with the ultimate aim of producing a draft Appendix to ISPM 12:2011.
The meeting documents and reports of the working group are posted below.