Global trade in plants and plant products is rapidly expanding – more than doubling in some cases – and set to grow another 11 percent by 2032. Yet, many countries still employ mostly manual rather than electronic means for issuing the phytosanitary certificates required to trade goods internationally. Relying on paper slows applications for and delivery of these certificates. They are not easily corrected when last-minute changes must be made and can be lost, causing days-long delays at border crossings, jeopardizing the freshness of highly perishable goods and increasing refrigeration needs. This – together with transporting printed certificates to and from customs offices – increases greenhouse gas emissions. Electronic phytosanitary certificates – ePhytos – are easier to use, cheaper, safer and more responsive to changing circumstances. They speed up exports, increasing trade between countries. This report examines how the ePhyto solution can facilitate the export trade of four countries where the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) operates: Serbia, Egypt, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. It is part of the Directions in Investment series under the FAO Investment Centre’s Innovation and Knowledge for Investment (IK4I) programme.
