São Paulo – Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) has implemented the electronic signature for phytosanitary certificates accompanying exports of plant products, the Ministry reported on Wednesday (15). The goal is reducing the physical contact between foreign trade players and federal oversight amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
MAPA international oversight and phytosanitary certification general coordinator Edilene Cambraia said that only accredited federal agriculture fiscal auditors with a valid token can issue the certificate within this new modality. Documents will also have a QR Code, which allows for checking its authenticity.
Another measure taken in the foreign trade of plant products due to coronavirus was the emergency implementation of electronic sending and receiving of phytosanitary certificate copies. According to MAPA, Brazilian phytosanitary authorities will be able to electronically share certificates of exported and imported plant products with other countries. Besides reducing the contact between people, it can help avoid delays in the transmission of documents caused by cancelled flights.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
