. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/W/264 
19 October 2011  
 
(11-5173) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:   Spanish 
  
 
USE OF ELECTRONIC SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY 
CERTIFICATES IN WORLD TRADE 
 
Communication from Mexico 
 
 
 The following communication, received on 18 October 2011, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Mexico. 
 
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 1. Mexico has made significant progress in the implementation of trade facilitation measures 
similar to those proposed at WTO SPS Committe e meetings.  These measures concern, inter alia , the 
publication and availability of information on sanitary  and phytosanitary measures and, more recently, 
the creation of the Single Foreign Trade Window.  Such improvements will put Mexico at the 
forefront of trade efficiency, while ensuri ng compliance with international regulations. 
2. On 14 January 2011, a Presidential Decree relati ng to the creation of the Mexican Electronic 
Foreign Trade Window was published in the Mexican Offi cial Journal.  This Decree stipulates that the 
foreign trade procedures of the National Agri culture and Food Health, Safety and Quality 
Service (SENASICA) of the Ministry of Agricultu re, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and 
Food (SAGARPA) are to be incorporated into  this Electronic Foreign Trade Window as of 
31 January 2012. 
3. For the Electronic Single Window to have a major impact on SENASICA procedures, its 
connection with international systems has to be ensured through the electronic exchange of 
information relating to phytosanitary, animal  health and aquaculture certification. 
4. Mexico's Electronic Foreign Trade Window seeks to provide a single reception point for the 
information that is provided in advance by the variou s parties involved in foreign trade.  In doing so, 
it will facilitate and control Mexican trade, provide a basis for the restructuring of the customs system 
processes, contribute to the paperless customs system and ensure the applicati on of quality standards 
and best practices in the field.  The development of this Window will involve the creation of a module 
for the electronic exchange of information be tween governments, which will be notified to 
Member countries in due course. 
5. On the basis of the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) for issuing 
phytosanitary certificates, Mexico seeks to establish a reciprocal electronic scheme with 
Member countries that will ensure compliance with safety standards, promote a climate of trust and 
ensure fulfilment of the certification objec tives of the International Plant Protection 
Convention (IPPC) and the objectives of the animal he alth certificates provided for in Section 5 of the 
OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code. G/SPS/W/264 
Page 2  
 
  6. The need to establish certificates at global level has arisen due to an increase in the number of 
countries interested in electronic certification.  Su ch certification is viewed as a means of facilitating 
import and export procedures between countries and en suring their harmonization, providing that the 
parameters of reliability are maintained for both printed and electronic certificates. 
7. In this respect, SENASICA has launched a re view and is working to form links with 
Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Canada and the United States of America in order to establish 
technical, administrative and management protoc ols for the implementation of the electronic 
exchange of certificates concerning agriculture and food health, safety and quality for foreign trade 
purposes. 
POSSIBLE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS 
 
8. Mexico is of the opinion that the Committee needs to discuss and put forward 
recommendations that will help Member countries and international bodies to harmonize electronic 
sanitary and phytosanitary certification procedures, with a view to ensuring that the guidelines 
followed are uniform and consistent with the basic objectives of the sanitary regulations established in 
the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement), in 
accordance with the following precepts: 
(a) International bodies (IPPC, OIE, Codex Al imentarius Commission) establish and 
issue guidelines, standards or rules for approving or harmonizing the electronic exchange of certificates and other sanitary and phytosanitary documents required for 
foreign trade purposes. 
(b) Member countries are called on to comply w ith the rules, guidelines, standards and 
recommendations issued by internatio nal bodies for designing, setting up and 
implementing electronic information and document exchange systems, pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 of the SPS Agreement. 
(c) Member countries are urged to promote b ilateral and regional electronic exchange 
initiatives and to ensure harmonization with the international rules, guidelines and 
standards issued by the above-mentioned international bodies. 
9. This communication is being submitted unde r Article 13 of the SPS Agreement, without 
prejudice to Mexico's rights and obl igations under that Agreement. 
 
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