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March 31, 2014

Revised: June 21, 2017

TO: U.S. Dairy Exporters

SUBJECT: Exporters Must Register and Participate in Web-based Training to Utilize USDA's

Electronic Trade Document Exchange (eTDE) System for China Sanitary Export Certificate

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has enhanced the Electronic Document Creation

System (eDOCs) to include the issuance of China Sanitary Export Certificate. eDOCs works in

conjunction with the Electronic Trade Document Exchange (eTDE) system, and prior to utilizing

these systems all users must register for eTDE which includes physically going to your nearest 

USDA Service Center office with a government-issued ID to prove your identity. U.S. exporters

must obtain a Level 2 USDA E-Authentication account in order to access the eDOCs application

system and view the final certificates on eTDE. A link to registration instructions is on the

second page of this letter.

eDOCs allows the dairy industry to request a China Sanitary Export Certificate using a secure

web-based service. AMS Dairy Programs will electronically review and approve each request.

Certificates created in eDOCs flow automatically to eTDE, so that the foreign port authorities 

and U.S. exporters can view the electronic certificates online. USDA can also transmit certificate

data electronically to China's information systems to create required China entry documents that

Chinese importers previously had to request manually.

Deployment of eDOCs improves business efficiencies throughout the government and dairy

industry. With eDOCs, the average processing time on these documents is expected to decrease

from five business days to 24 hours or less which will enhance international trade by allowing

exporters to ship orders to China more expeditiously. The eDOCs application system allows

exporters to create 60 customer templates and re-use some data from old certificates, eliminating

the need to input all data with each new certificate request resulting in cost and time savings. It

also allows U.S. government to operate more efficiently by reducing staff hours needed to

complete and transmit certificates. AMS will continue to issue paper health certificates until 

China advises that electronic certificates are sufficient, but we are transitioning in that direction

with eTDE.

United States Agricultural 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.

Department of Marketing Room 2746-S, STOP 0230

Agriculture Service Washington, DC 20250-0225
Where can the Industry Receive Assistance and Training to Facilitate a Smooth

Transition?

AMS has developed several resources to assist the industry during this interim period. You can

find information on how to register with USDA and access this system at 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/services/imports-exports/china-dairy. However, before using eDOCs,

you must register for eTDE. You can find information on registration at

http://www.etde.usda.gov/eTDEHelpCenterDairy.aspx. Each individual that requests certificates

should obtain their own individual log-in and password to eTDE. There can be more than one

login per company and there is no cost to register.

AMS/Information Technology Services (ITS) is hosting the eTDE I eDOCs systems and is the

Subject Matter Expert (SME) for these Trade applications. The eTDE I eDOCs demo and

briefing sessions will be conducted by USDA/ITS. Please contact

Fariba.Tacoukjou@ams.usda.gov for issues and questions with eTDE and eDOCs.

Sign up for eTDE and eDOCs Webinar Training

Training sessions are offered on both eTDE and the eDOCs application systems Thursdays or

Fridays at 4pm EST (days and times are subject to change). To register, please e-mail

DairyNFO@ams.usda.gov. Registration will be first-come, first served, and spots in each session

are limited.

We appreciate feedback you might have on this new system. It is our pleasure to continue

serving your needs and we are working every day to improve this process. AMS is at the point

of expanding this technology to other importing countries starting with China.

Diane D. Lewis

Director, Dairy Grading and Standardization Division

Dairy Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service

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