Germany Fast-Tracks Grain Exports with Digital Certificates

Germany played a key role in helping Ukraine implement an electronic phytosanitary certification system, known as ePhyto. This digital platform allows for faster and more reliable exchange of certificates between countries.

The project was initiated by the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The goal was to streamline the process of exporting grains and oilseeds, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

ePhyto replaces paper certificates with secure digital versions, confirming that plants meet necessary health and safety requirements. The system has been successful, with over 100,000 ePhytos exchanged via the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) ePhyto Hub since its launch a year ago.

The implementation of ePhyto also strengthened the link between Ukraine's phytosanitary certification system and laboratory information management system. This has reduced the need for physical document processing, creating a more complete digital process.