G/SPS/GEN/2175  
 
15 November 2023  
(23-7692) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
  
MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES  
15-17 NOVEMBER 2023  
COMMUNICATION FROM CÔTE D'IVOIRE  
The following document, received on 15 November 2023, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Côte d'Ivoire . 
 
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Item 2(a) Information on Côte d'Ivoire's e -phyto certification system  
1.1.  On 3 May 2023, Côte d'Ivoire officially tr ansitioned to the issuance of electronic phytosanitary 
(ePhyto) certificates. This system covers Côte d'Ivoire's foreign trade in plants and plant products.  
1.2.  This reform falls within the context of the implementation of the Agreement on SPS Measures 
and als o seeks to facilitate trade  by streamlining  Côte d'Ivoire's export and re -export operations.  
1.3.  It should be noted that  in Côte d'Ivoire , as in most countries, the purpose of issuing 
phytosanitary certificates is to certify  that exported goods are free from d angerous pests, in order 
to prevent their introduction and spread in the countries of destination of the goods.  
1.4.  To this end, Côte d'Ivoire adopted, from the outset, the model phytosanitary certificates of the 
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC ). 
1.5.  However, paper -based certificates have long shown their limits in terms of trade, insofar as 
they have imposed various constraints on both the phytosanitary administration and private 
operators , resulting in administrative delays, high costs for the dispatch of documents, and the risk 
of damage or loss, or the risk of fraud and falsification of paper -based phytosanitary certificates, 
which could sully or discredit the country's exports in the eyes of its foreign partners.  
1.6.  That is why, in the age of digitalization, Côte d'Ivoire has chosen to introduce a process 
whereby phytosanitary certificates  are issued electronically , thus facilitating trade and making it 
safer, faster and less expensive.  
1.7.  Naturally, the new electronic certificate draws and builds on the International Standards for 
Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM 12) on the principles and guidelines for the issuance of phytosanitary 
certificates, as set out in the IPPC.  
1.8.  Côte d'Ivoire's ePhyto sy stem has been implemented under the Ministry responsible for 
agriculture, but through the Single Window for Foreign Trade (GUCE -CI) platform, which is overseen 
by the Ministry responsible for trade.  
1.9.  In 2013, Côte d'Ivoire established a Single Window for Fo reign Trade, which now includes some 
20 modules covering  specific steps and procedures related to foreign trade formalities. The ePhyto 
System is one of the modules.  
1.10.   The first phase of the project was implemented between 2018 and 2022, and involved the 
creation, development and implementation of Version 1 (V1) of the ePhyto module, which was G/SPS/GEN/2175  
 
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  limited to online requests for phytosanitary certificates followed by the issuance of paper -based 
phytosanitary certificates.  
1.11.   As of 2021, Côte d'Ivoire has developed an d implemented phase 2 of this project, thus 
digitalizing both requests for and the issuance of ePhyto certificates. Th erefore , since 3 May this 
year, all exporters of plants or plant products have had their phytosanitary certificates issued 
electronically.  
1.12.   Specifically, the functionalities of the e -certification platform allow requests to be made and 
validated online and ePhyto certificates to be created and sent to requesting economic operators in 
Côte d'Ivoire . The functionalities also allow ePhyto certif icates to be received from external economic 
partners and facilitate the exchange of ePhyto certificates between the National Plant Protection 
Organization (NPPO) of Côte d'Ivoire (DPVCQ) and other NPPOs around the world.  
1.13.   As such, the electronic platform h as effectively facilitated safe and sustainable trade with the 
country's partners. It has also minimized fraud and improved transparency, reliability and 
traceability, owing to, in particular, the inclusion of an electronic signature system and QR code. Fo r 
the administration  especially , the system has made it possible to have better statistical records on 
phytosanitary issues.  
1.14.   Furthermore, it should be noted that the Single Window also includes an e -inspection module 
that allows the phytosanitary administr ation and other authorities responsible for inspections to 
schedule one -time coordinated inspection visits with a view to reducing the number of inspections 
for any given operator.  
1.15.   Several stakeholders are involved in this reform at the national level, nam ely the Directorate 
for Plant Protection , Control  and Quality ( NPPO ), the Single Window for Foreign Trade, exporters 
and forwarding agents.  
1.16.   The project has also benefited from the support of international technical and financial 
partners, such as the IPPC Secretariat; the Trade Facilitation West Africa (TFWA) Programme, 
implemented  by the World Bank Group (IFC) with funding from the European Union, USAID, the 
Netherlands and German cooperation; and the Competitive Value Chains for Jobs and Economic 
Transfor mation  Project , also funded by the World Bank.  
1.17.   However, the roll -out of the ePhyto system faces a number of challenges, including:  
− Training all phytosanitary inspectors and private operators in the proper use of the ePhyto 
module and making the system operational at all land and rail entry points;  
− Constructing or installing appropriate infrastructure for efficient inspections at land and rail 
entry points;  
− Providing digital tablets with Internet connection to inspectors for data entry during 
inspections.  
1.18.   Looking forward, Côte d'Ivoire also plans to develop a similar  module for veterinary 
certification, eVeto, which will be included as a module of the Single Window for Foreign Trade and 
will apply to trade in meat and fish products.  
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