G/SPS/GEN/1771  
15 April 2020 
(20-2900) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
MEASURES CONCERNING PHYTOSANITARY CERTIFICATES AIMED AT THE  
FACILITATION OF TRADE IN VIEW OF ISSUES ARISING  
FROM THE  COVID -19 PANDEMIC  
COMMUNICA TION FROM  ECUADOR  
The following communication , dated  3 April 2020, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of Ecuador . 
 
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1.  The challenging time that the world is going through  has led to  governments taking increasingly 
drastic measures to ensure  public  health . 
2.  As a result , the Ecuadorian Government  has restricted mo vement as far as possible  across the 
whole country, with a view to keeping  new COVID -19 infections under control . Under t hese 
measures , there are times when m ovement  is fully restricted, and other times when it is limited and 
controlled . Moreover,  commercial flights are limited, and postal services  therefore suspended , 
mean ing that exporters are unable to send physical cop ies of phytosanitary export certificates (CFE s) 
to their importers . 
3.  In light of this, and in order to prevent  the spread of this dangerous virus through physical contact 
and public  gathering s, the Ecuadorian Agency for Plant and Animal Health Regulation and Control 
(AGROCALIDAD) has deemed it necessary  to seek alternatives  so that Ecuador ian shipments can 
reach our trading partners without any documentation -related  difficulties.  
4.  We therefore  request that WTO Members , in cases where it is not possible to send physical copies 
of CFEs, accept CFEs from Ecuador issued in digita l form (as a scanned document) . These will  be 
issued  to the exporter following the inspection, in compliance with internal controls . The scanned 
certificate will be sent to you via the email address that e ach Member has notified as its contact 
point. 
5.  With a view to facilitating the verification of CFEs , AGROCALIDAD ha s developed an online 
platform for viewing  and verifying CFEs. The platform can be accessed at : 
https://sistemas.agrocalidad.gob.ec/sizse/publicAgr/publicCertFitSvAgr.aspx  
 
6.  Officials from NPPOs  can follow  this link and enter the certificate number . A digital copy of the 
certificate issued by AGROCALIDAD  can then be viewed  on screen , which proves  its authenticity . As 
always, AGROCALIDAD guarantees the conducting of phytosanitary inspections as well as the proper 
issuance of the CFEs . 
7.  The platform is  available in Spanish and English . Attached is a user 's guide in both languages , 
which outline s the process for carrying out verifications.  
8.  We are aware that similar measures are being implemented in other countries and are therefore 
confident that exports will be able to reach their destination . Ecuador greatly appreciates Members' 
understanding and positive response to this special request.  G/SPS/GEN/1771  
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  9.  We w ould be grateful if Members could inform the authorities carrying out border controls of this 
matter , so as to ensure that the processes necessary for  the releas e of shipments  are carried out . 
10.  AGROCALIDAD 's international relations  unit is available for  any question s or information or 
verification requests that your authorities may have . These should be sent to the following  email 
addresses : 
relaciones.internacionales@agrocalidad.gob.ec  
agrocalidad.rrii@gmail.com  
 
11.  AGROCALIDAD reiter ates its thanks to its fellow plant health bodies worldwide  for accepting 
digitalized versions of the CFE via email whil e the health  emergency persists across the globe . Once 
the situation becomes less se vere and conditions improve, physical  copies of the  document will once 
again be issued . 
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