Eurasian Economic Union to switch to electronic vet certificates

The Eurasian Economic Commission has amended its legislation towards the Union’s switch to electronic veterinary certificates, reports Megafishnet.com.

According to Russia’s veterinary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor, the Commission has approved amendments to the Regulation on the Unified Procedure for Veterinary Control (Supervision) at the customs Border of the Union and on the Customs Territory of the Union. The amendments provide for the use of electronic veterinary certificates by the authorized bodies of the EAEU countries.

Currently, when importing and moving goods subject to veterinary control, paper veterinary certificates are issued. The use of electronic accompanying documents will improve the exchange of information between countries, as well as eliminate the possibility of forgery of certificates.

The Rosselkhoznadzor initiated these changes back in 2016 and now it welcomes their approval by the supranational regulatory body.

The Russian agency has been integrating the digital agenda into its control and supervisory activities for many years. The Mercury system, which provides electronic veterinary certification in Russia, was created by the Rosselkhoznadzor eleven years ago. Back then, the agency set itself the goal of developing an information product that would let abandon the paid issuance of veterinary certificates in paper and provide traceability of production and movement of animal cargos on the territory of the country.

As a result, the Mercury system, which is part of the large VetIS software package, today makes it possible to track products "from the sea to the plate" as practiced in the developed countries of the world. Electronic certification in Russia has been mandatory for more than three years.

Since 2014, the Rosselkhoznadzor has been working with more than 60 countries around the world on the integration of information systems, which will allow the exchange of electronic veterinary certificates in mutual trade.

To date, successful integration projects have been implemented with national information systems in the field of veterinary medicine in New Zealand, the Netherlands, Chile, Australia, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, Finland, France, the Czech Republic, Sweden. A working plan is being coordinated with Brazil, Peru and Morocco.

In this regard, of all the EAEU countries, the most productive work is being carried out with Belarus.

However, not all states of the Union, despite the active position of the Russian department on this issue, strive for information interaction.

The Rosselkhoznadzor often observes a deliberate slowdown in technical integration processes, the reason for which may be the technical unwillingness of the EAEU countries to use modern digital technologies, as well as disinterest in ensuring transparency in the production and circulation of controlled goods.

In this regard, the decision of the Eurasian Economic Commission, the purpose of which is to encourage the competent authorities of the EAEU countries to use electronic accompanying documents, is an important step in the process of improving veterinary control of livestock products that move between the countries of the Union.

The Council's decision will come into force 180 days after its publication on the official website of the Commission.