FSIS To Begin Implementing Electronic Export System for Meat, Poultry, Egg Products in June 2017
The Food Safety and Inspection Service is making regulatory changes that will allow it to implement the export component of its electronic Public Health Information System (PHIS), it said in a final rule (here). Under the new system, exporters of FSIS-regulated products will, for a fee, be able to apply for export certificates and establishment approval; create, revise and submit product lists; cancel pending applications and certificates; request replacement certificates; and return exported products. FSIS said it will phase in implementation of the new system by foreign importing country beginning in June 2017.
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Regulatory amendments in FSIS’ final rule largely mirror those included in the agency’s 2012 proposal (see 12012403), providing FSIS with the ability to implement an electronic export application and associated fees. The final rule also harmonizes FSIS egg product regulations on export application and certification with those for meat and poultry, and provides for marking product containers with a unique identifier that links to the export certificate.
The new electronic export system will include electronic data elements for export-related forms, including the application for export certificate, product list, application for the return of exported products to the United States, and establishment application for export. The system also will have the capability to produce paper certificates that may be signed in ink or electronically by FSIS for submission to foreign governments, with the foreign governments also having the capability to view all export certificates for product intended for their countries. Eventually, FSIS “also intends to support electronic export certification in PHIS. Electronic export certification is the government-to-government transmission of certification data and is the electronic equivalent of a paper certificate,” it said.
FSIS will charge exporters that choose to use the PHIS export component a fee of $4.03 per application submitted, it said. The fee is justified because PHIS for exports “will provide exporters with new service options, such as the ability to electronically submit, track, and manage their export applications, FSIS said.
Alternatively, exporters of FSIS-regulated products will still be able to submit paper applications for export certifications. However, once the PHIS export component comes online, exporters that do so will have to email, fax or mail the application and other information required by the importing country to FSIS so the agency can enter the information into PHIS. Processing of paper applications will be slower, taking at least three to five business days after receipt of an application instead of benefiting from immediate processing like electronic applications.
Exporters that want to use the PHIS export component will need to register for a U.S. Department of Agriculture eAuthentication account with “Level 2” access. FSIS “plans to provide exporters with more specific, detailed information on how to access PHIS to submit and manage export certificate applications, including guidance to exporters for accessing and navigating the PHIS Export Component,” it said. The agency will take a phased approach to implementation, implement the PHIS export system for only one foreign country or a limited number of foreign countries beginning on June 29, 2019, then “gradually” expand implementation to additional countries, FSIS said.
(Federal Register 06/29/16)