Tonga's international trade in plant-based products is made easier with MAFF's recent roll-out of an “ePhyto system” that allows exporters and farmers to electronically obtain phytosanitary certificates from overseas biosecurity authorities.

It will see a gradual migration from paper documents over to the digital-based “ePhyto” certificates.

The Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Plus Program (PHAMA Plus) last week handed over to MAFF the digital equipment needed for the issuance of ePhyto through the GeNS online portal.

PHAMA Plus stated that local exporters have welcomed the introduction of the ePhyto project.

Fetongimoeata Lasike of SUL Farms Nukunuku said the new system would be more secure and cost-effective.

“With ePhyto, we will save a lot of money as we previously relied on sending phytosanitary certificates and documentation via courier as they didn't accept copies, only originals, in order to export,” he said.

Digital-based phytosanitary certificates

The project called the Generic EPhyto National System (GeNS) in Tonga was rolled out by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) to facilitate agricultural trade and safeguard food security in the region.

The trade in many plant-based goods require phytosanitary certificates issued by the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) of any exporting country. This indicates that export consignments of plants, plant products or other regulated articles meet specified import requirements.

On 10 January, PHAMA Plus handed over the digital equipment to MAFF, including desktop computers, printers, laptop, external hard drives and tablets. The support is part of a collaboration between MAFF and PHAMA Plus, supported by Australia and New Zealand, to successfully implement the GeNS project.

Ms Cassie Cohen, the First Secretary of the Australian High Commission to Tonga said, “The equipment that we are handing over today will guarantee that the ePhyto system will be put into practical use for the benefits the exporters and the farmers in Tonga through improving access, sharing, approving and issuance of an electronic Phytosanitary Certificate.”

The ePhyto system enables governments to share phytosanitary data well before a commodity’s arrival. As a result, importing countries save time in determining compliance and can address any biosecurity or documentary issues directly with the exporting authority.

MAFF chief executive officer Dr Viliami Manu said, “The ePhyto system leads to better regulation of plant exports and imports across the Pacific region and provides efficient market access opportunities at a reduced operational cost. This support is a boost to better serving the people of Tonga through the efficient issuance and exchange of phytosanitary certificates between the various competent authorities.”

PHAMA Plus Country Manager Tevita Lautaha said that the program supported efforts to encourage better access to markets and trade facilitation.

“We are pleased to support MAFF with the implementation of the ePhyto system to ensure the continuity of trade and improve Tonga’s agricultural trade efficiency by reducing the time and cost of sending paper certificates from country to country,” he said.

PHAMA Plus has been working in Tonga since 2011 to maintain and improve existing market access, and create new markets by developing the capacity of public and private sectors to meet export market requirements.

Key development partners working in collaboration to implement ePhyto in the region include the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, World Bank Group, PACER Plus Implementation Unit and the Pacific Community’s Safe Agricultural Trade Facilitation through Economic Integration in the Pacific (SAFE Pacific) project.