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This program cooperates with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), Export Services, to issue federal documents called phytosanitary certificates for commodities entering foreign countries.
Staff also serve as an important first point of contact for many exporters seeking to establish a presence in the international marketplace. Trained staff are located in East Grand Forks, Bemidji, Menahga, and St. Paul.
Under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 18.G (2010), the export program is fully funded through service fees collected for inspections and certification.
What is a Phytosanitary Certificate?
A phytosanitary certificate is an official document verifying that a commodity has been inspected by an authorized official and found to be relatively free of pests and pathogens. The literal definition of “phytosanitary” is plant (phyto) free of elements that endanger health (sanitary).
Certification through this program is available only for raw or minimally processed plant products. For example, soybeans can be certified through this program, but soy milk may not. The program does not certify oils, liquids, or food and feed additives.
A good way to evaluate a product is to determine if the commodity has been processed, through heat treatment or additives, to the point that the risk of plant pests has been eliminated.
Products that are further processed but may still carry some risk of pests, such as animal feed with added minerals, may qualify for a processed product certificate. While not the same as a phytosanitary certificate, a processed product certificate is sufficient in many cases.
What are Phytosanitary Certificates Used For?
Federal Phytosanitary Certificates
A federal phytosanitary certificate is issued for products that are shipped to other countries. The importing country determines whether a phytosanitary certificate is needed and may specify additional conditions that must be met before a phytosanitary certificate can be issued.
These conditions may include:
- Chemical treatment
- Growing season inspection of parent plants
- Lab testing for plant diseases
The MDA Export Certification Program works with exporters to determine the requirements of the destination country for your product and ensure you meet those requirements.
State Phytosanitary Certificates
State phytosanitary certificates are issued for products shipped to other states or United States territories that require certification of freedom from plant pests.
State phytosanitary certificates are commonly used when:
- Shipping high risk items such as live plants
- Shipping through Canada to Alaska
- Shipping to Puerto Rico or other United States territories
The application and inspection process is the same as for a federal phytosanitary certificate.
Other Types of Export Certificates
The Export Certification Program also provides additional certifications for shipments within the United States, depending on destination-state requirements.
European corn borer freedom certification is primarily used for the movement of shelled corn grain to West Coast states where the pest is not established.
Japanese Beetle certification is required for plants with growing media and grass sod shipped to states south and west of Minnesota.
Japanese beetle is a pest that has caused significant problems in eastern states. The Twin Cities metro area has experienced a steady increase of Japanese beetles as the insect’s range expands westward.
Additional information about these certifications is available on the Japanese Beetle Certification and Services & Fees pages. You can also review individual state entry requirements for plant products under “External Links.”
