The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has extended the interim guidance for the electronic submission of phytosanitary certificates, PPQ 203 forms and veterinary health certificates for shipment clearance due to COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance is now effective  through December 31, 2020.

Please view APHIS’s message regarding phytosanitary certificates for imported plants and plants products here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/2a1c139

Acceptable phytosanitary certificates include scanned copies of original certificates, electronic certificates created through a participating country’s ePhyto system, or signed paper forms. Certificates should be legible and include APHIS-required statements.

Please view APHIS’s message regarding veterinary certificates for animal products and byproducts here:  https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/2a37a83

Electronic copies of veterinary certificates for animal products and byproducts should  be submitted in ACE-DIS. Trade entities are required to provide a reason for submission via DIS in the comments field, as part of the DIS submission email body, or as an additional statement included with document uploads. This reason should address the impact of COVID-19 on their ability to provide the original signed veterinary certificate.

Visit https://www.usda.gov/coronavirus for more information regarding USDA Coronavirus FAQs and guidance.