G/SPS/GEN/1815  
15 July 2020 
(20-4818) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
ONLINE FACILITIES RELATING TO OFFICIAL SANITARY CERTIFICATES FOR  
FOOD EXPORTS, FREE SALE CERTIFICATES FOR FOODSTUFFS AND  
SANITARY AUTHORIZATIONS FOR FOOD ADDITIVES,  FOR THE 
PURPOSES OF REVIVAL OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE  
COMMUNICA TION FROM  PERU 
The following communication , received on 10 July 2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
delega tion of Peru. 
 
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1.  The C OVID -19 pandemic  represent s a worldwide sanitary  problem that has resulted in the 
adoption of restrictions on air transport , which are affecting courier  services used for the dispatch 
of sanitary  certificates or other international trade documents, thereby delaying export and import  
formalities.  
2.  In this regard, in o rder to optimize  the export ation of industrially processed foods1, the 
Directorate -General of Environmental Health and Food Safety of Peru  (DIGESA) notifies 
WTO Members of the implementa tion of digital media to verify the authenticity of  official sanitary  
certificates for food exports , free marketing certificates for food and beverages  (or free sale 
certifica tes), and also authorizations for food additives , issued by this body : 
a. With regar d to official sanitary  certificates for food exports , their authenticity can 
be verified  via: 
i. The Single Window  for Foreign Trade  (VUCE)  at the following web  address : 
https://www.vuce.gob.pe/ Paginas/consulta_DR.aspx . 
For this purpose, the number of the decision document (Spanish abbreviation : DR) 
and the exporting company 's single tax payer  registration number (Spanish 
abbreviation : RUC) must be indicated . Both codes are provided in the decision 
document  summary sheet , which  is issued together with the certificates referred to  
above . Peruvian  exporters  can thus provide this information where request ed to do 
so by the health  authority of the destination countr y. 
 
ii. The DIGESA webpage using  the following link: 
http://www.digesa.minsa.gob.pe/Expedientes/BusquedaCS.aspx . 
In these cases , possible search criteria include any given country , company,  product, 
certifica te or RUC. 
 
 
1 Except fishery and aquiculture products.  G/SPS/GEN/1815  
- 2 - 
  b. With regard to free marketing certificates for  food and beverages  (or free sale 
certifica tes), their authenticity can be verified via : 
i. The Single Window for Foreign Trade  (VUCE) at the following web  address : 
https://www.vuce.gob.pe/Paginas/consulta_DR.aspx . For this purpose , the number 
of the decision document (Spanish abbreviation : DR) and the exporting company 's 
single tax payer  registration num ber (Spanish abbreviation : RUC) must be indicated . 
Both codes are provided in the decision document summary sheet , which is issued 
together with the certificates referred to above . Peruvian exporters can thus provide 
this information where  request ed to do so by  the health authority of the destination 
country.  
c. With regard to authoriza tions for food additives , their authenticity may be verified 
via: 
ii. The DIGESA webpage using  the following link : 
http://www.digesa.minsa.gob.pe/Expedientes/BusquedaAS.aspx . In these cases, 
possible search criteria include any given country, company, product, certificate or 
RUC. 
d. Similarly , the authentici ty of the  above -mentioned certifica tes can also be verified by 
email : digesaconsul@minsa.gob.pe . 
3.  If the institu tion of the country of origin that issues free marketing  certificates for food and 
beverages  (or free sale certifica tes) is not on the list of competent  authorities recognized by 
DIGESA , enquiries can be made in electronic  form by email : digesaconsul@minsa.gob.pe . 
4.  In accordance with the above , Peru urge s WTO Members to bring this communication to the 
attention of the ir health authorities having competence for food imports . 
5.  La Directorate -General of Environmental Health and Food Safety of Peru  (DIGESA)  will continue 
to take the necessary measures for the revival of the trade in foodstuffs within its competence . 
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