Expanding the E-cert grant for exporting seafood

After nearly 10 months of pilot issue of E-cert for exporting seafood shipments under the National Single Window, the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD) requested expansion in early March.

Seafood processed for export. Photo: Thu Hoa

More than 600 certificates granted

From 16 May, 2016, the NAFIQAD has piloted the implementation of 2 administrative procedures including "Granting certificates for export seafood shipments manufactured at establishments in the priority list," and "Checking and granting certificates for exporting seafood shipments manufactured at establishments outside the priority list "for seafood shipments exported to Korea and China on the National Single Window system.

According to NAFIQAD, the initial deployment had certain results. The regional Branches handled more than 1,200 records registered on the system and granted nearly 600 certificates. However, up to now, the E-cert registration and issue through the National Single Window system was not being joined by regional Branches or enterprises, this is reflected by the number of certificates granted through the system being much lower than the total issued certificates.

In the coming time, under the directions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, NAFIAD will stop receiving the registration for issue of certificates through paper records in order to handle on the National Single Window.

NAFIQAD requested seafood processing and exporting seafood enterprises to study and learn information and provisions on the National Single Window system posted on the National Single Window Portal, the websites of the General Department of Vietnam Customs and the Ministry of Agriculture and rural Development for guidance on the application of the National Single Window system.

From 1st March, 2017, NAFIQAD will conduct registration of certificates granted on the National Single Window system for seafood shipments exported to South Korea and China; and expand to other markets after completing the software. From 03rd May 2017, NAFIQAD will stop supporting and handling problems related to the certificates registered through paper records for South Korea and China if the problems come from the applicants.

E-cert granted for seafood exported to EU According to NAFIQAD, in spite of piloting the E-cert grant for seafood shipments exported to EU through TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System) in 2016, the rate of certificates granted through the system was very low with 2,400 shipments of the total 18,201 shipments which was granted certificates to the EU (only accounting for 13.2%)

The EU competent authority stated that they will complete the E-certificate acceptance system for shipments granted certificates through TRACES. This will create more favorable conditions for certificate grant activity for seafood shipments exported to EU not to be printed and sealed in paper records. Therefore, the EU competent authority requested NAFIQAD to implement E-certificates through TRACES from the first quarter of 2017 onwards applying for all certificates granted for seafood shipments exported to the EU.

To promote E-cert grant through TRACES, meeting the requirements of the EU competent authority, simplifying the administrative procedures and creating more favorable conditions for export activities of enterprises, NAFIQAD will proceed to grant E-certificates fully on TRACES. Initially, from 15th March 2017, the Department will stop supporting to solve problems related to certificates registered by paper records if those problems come from the applicants.

Thus, enterprises which have not implemented the registration of E-cert grant for shipments exported to the EU through TRACES, should urgently study and learn the information and regulations on TRACES posted on the website of the DG-SANTE. Also, contacting to the NAFIQAD branch for guidance and training on TRACES application, and implement the registration of E- certificate grant for shipments exported to the EU via TRACES, not later than 1 March, 2017.