Electronic Certification (eCert)

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) works closely with other governments, agencies, industry and the community to minimise the risk of exotic pests and diseases entering and establishing in Australia and harming the natural environment, our food security and economy.

In order to meet future global challenges such as increased trade and bioterrorism, the department is implementing reforms to strengthen Australia’s biosecurity system. The development of electronic, government-to-government certification for imports to Australia is an important part of these reforms.

What is eCert for Imports?

eCert for Imports is an electronic system that enables DAFF to receive overseas government generated certificates for food and agricultural commodities being exported to Australia. Certificates generated by exporting government agencies provide assurance to DAFF that exported commodities comply with food safety, animal and plant health requirements.

What is changing?

The eCert imports system will receive Extensible Mark-up Language (XML) certificates in place of the current paper certificates issued by exporting government agencies. The electronic certificates will provide the same information that is currently provided on paper certificates. The electronic certificates will be downloaded from exporting country electronic systems and integrated into the department’s import management system (AIMS) to facilitate import clearance.

What is driving paperless trade?

Increased international interest in cross border security has been driven by the threat of bio-terrorism and increased trade. The World Customs Organisation (WCO) has recognised the benefit of prior notice of cargo arrivals in order for border agencies to apply risk assessment protocols to ensure public safety.

Electronic certification systems are also being driven by the risk and presentation of fraudulent documentation. eCert will assist in addressing this risk which can also have significant impacts on industry.

What are the benefits?

• Certificates will be transferred securely between governments reducing the opportunity for fraudulent activity
• Aligns with best practice international standards i.e. paperless trade
• Provides a blueprint for future e-certification developments
• Provides prior notice of imports – which could be used for pre-clearance
• Helps eliminate ‘lost’ documents
• Interface for industry clients is seamless
• Improved efficiency and integrity for staff assessing certification

When will eCert for Imports be available?

DAFF is currently working with the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries to trial the system for the automation of electronic Phytosanitary certificates to Australia with the rollout scheduled for 26 November 2012. Once this trial has been completed DAFF plans to open up the system to other overseas government agencies in early 2013.

Phase 1: New Zealand phytosanitary certificates only

During Phase 1 of the project DAFF will receive all phytosanitary certificates from New Zealand for plant based products including, but not limited to, fresh produce, plant, grain, nursery stock and timber.

Please note: there is no change to the procedures for foreign certificates under the Imported Food Act 1992 and other supporting documentation will need to be submitted in the usual manner. DAFF is looking at other initiatives to streamline the submission of supporting documentation.

What will importers and brokers need to do?

From 26 November 2012: when making a declaration importers and or brokers will need to accurately enter the phytosanitary certificate details into the relevant fields below in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) via their third party software application.

AQIS Document type: NZPHYTO and AQIS Document number: NZ phytosanitary certificate number.

Please contact your software provider if you are unsure or have difficulties with these fields.

Update for lodging declarations via Customs Interactive

DAFF would like to provide an update to the industry notice 75/2012 published on 26 October 2012 where we advised of a known issue whereby wildcard symbols, for example: “/#” will not be accepted if you lodge the declaration via Customs Interactive.

The solution to this issue is from 26 November 2012 an Importer/Broker who is lodging the declaration via Customs Interactive should submit the NZ Phytosanitary certificate number in the NZPHYTO “AQIS Document Number” field and use a single ‘space’ where a ‘/’ is used in the certificate number.

For example: “NZ2012/DAFF/123456 will need to be entered in the Customs Interactive as “NZ2012 DAFF 123456”.

Please note: The above solution is not applicable to brokers lodging via third party software as they are able to quote the ‘/’ in the certificate number field.

Additional information

By participating in this initiative importers and brokers will no longer need to submit a paper version of the New Zealand phytosanitary certificate for clearance purposes because DAFF will have immediate access to the certificate from New Zealand.

Two Industry Notices advising of the changes have been published on the DAFF website. These are 75–2012 & 87–2012.

Contact

Please email the eCert Project Team or phone +61 2 6272 3390