FSIS Sharing Revised FSIS Form 9060 -5 Series for Member States’ Awareness  
 
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is  making limited revisions to the FSIS Form 9060 -5 
export certificate series to better align with commonly accepted international guidance, and ensure 
importing countries’ requirements are met .  FSIS is revising this  certificate series (Meat and Poultry 
Export Certiﬁcate of Wholesomeness , 9060 -5; Fish and Fish Products  Export Certificate of 
Wholesomeness , 9060 -5S; Product continuation sheet , 9060 -5A; and Remarks continuation sheet , 9060 -
5B) as part of our implementation of the Public Health Information System (PHIS) export component, an 
electronic application and certification system.  On June 29, 2018, FSIS will implement the revised 
certificate series for both those countries included in the PHIS export component (see FSIS’ PHIS export 
component web page  at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/international -affairs/exporting -
products/phis -export -component ) and those that ar e not yet included in the PHIS export 
component.   Sample certificates are attached for your reference.   
On September 6, 2017, FSIS announced and requested comment on our plan to implement the PHIS 
export component, including limited certificate revisions,  on June 29, 2018 ( 82 FR 42056 ; World 
Trade Organization (WTO) notification, USA/SPS/2954). This date is a one -year extension of the 
implementation date originally published in FSIS’ final export rule ( 81 FR 42225 ; WTO notification, 
G/TBT/N/USA/678/Add.1).  FSIS intends to implement the PHIS export component with a limited 
number of countries, and will incrementally expand the number of countries that receive export 
certificates generated by the PHIS export component. More information about the PHIS expo rt 
component, including letters to  foreign governments, can be found on FSIS’ web page  at 
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/international -affairs/exporting -products/phis -export -
component .   
 
9060-5 Certificate Revisions : The limited 9060 -5 seri es revisions include reformatting and renaming 
data elements to better reflect  international guidance, meet importing countries’ requirements,  and 
position  FSIS to implement  government -to-government electronic export certification data transfer 
(eCert)  in the future .  FSIS compared the current 9060 -5 series with international guidance , and made 
the revised 9060 -5 series more consistent, wherever possible,  with that guidance .  For example, the 
previous certificate’s “Product as Labeled,” will become “Description of Product;” “Marked Weight 
of Lot” will become “Net Weight of Lot;” and “Type of Packages” will be an added data 
element.   The new certificates will also carry the official USDA seal.  
Product and Remarks Continuation Sheets : When additional s pace for products or statements 
is necessary with a 9060 -5 or 9060 -5S, PHIS will also generate FSIS Form 9060 -5A (product 
continuation sheet ), which is an existing addendum that FSIS has aligned with the revised 
9060 -5; and FSIS Form 9060 -5B (remarks conti nuation sheet ), a new addendum to provide 
more space for additional attestations, when required by the importing country.  
Digital Signature :  On June 29, 2018, the PHIS export component will produce 9060 -5 export 
certificates – as printed original certific ates, and digital (PDF) copies captured in PHIS.  FSIS 
certifying officials will use secure, US government -issued individual ID cards ( credentials ) to digitally 
sign the export certificates for countries in PHIS.  PHIS will print the digitally signed  certificates on 8 
1/2″ × 11″ security paper .  The digital signature will include the  printed name of the FSIS certifying 
official, and  a unique identification code based on the certifying official’s credentials .  These feature s 
will provide an additional layer of security for the exporter and the importing country's government.  
At the time the  digital  signature is applied, USDA’s eAuthentication personnel security system will 
validate through a security process that the digital signature is that of the FS IS certifying official. This 
feature, along with other security features of the PHIS export component, will provide maximum 
assurance that export certificates are authentic.  A sample printed digital signature is applied to the 
attached certificate  example s.  For countries not yet included in the PHIS export component, FSIS will 
continue to sign 9060 -5 series export certificates using ink, on standard paper.