The Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is planning significant improvements to the Public Health Information System export component in 2025.
The PHIS export component enables exporters to electronically submit, track, and manage applications for export certificates, including bundling multiple applications and supplemental documents into a single file. Foreign governments have the capability to view all export certificates issued by FSIS for product intended for their country. FSIS is able to digitally sign export certificates and to electronically inventory and track export certificate information, which enables it to review exact images of export certification documents prior to approval.
One of the planned enhancements will enable applicants to unlock a submitted export application and edit almost all data elements until FSIS inspection personnel have approved the certificate, although some changes may require FSIS personnel to reinspect the product to be exported. FSIS notes that it will continue its policy of limiting the ability to make changes to product data elements on a replacement application to maintain the integrity of the export certification process. This means that when mistakes related to the product on the export certificate are detected after the product arrives at a foreign port, that product will often need to be returned to the U.S. to be recertified for export.
Other changes will include allowing applicants to (1) select from a list of most recent entries for importer and exporter and pre-fill data fields when the applicant selects one, (2) initiate a replacement certificate with one click from the original certificate and pre-fill the original certificate number to be replaced, (3) choose from the establishment’s “Doing Business As” names in the PHIS profile to specify which business name shows on the export certificate for the exporting establishment, (4) copy a product entry or select from recent product entries to streamline adding product information to applications, and (5) enter secondary species for multi-species products and choose applicable statements for the secondary species.
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