Argentina has now joined the 10 other countries that plan to participate in the IPPC-WTO ePhyto Hub pilot in 2017.

The addition of Argentina follows the development of ePhytos in the country at local level, and a visit by the IPPC to the city of La Plata in October 2016 (full story here).

Technical specifications for the Hub have now been finalised and it is expected that countries with existing national systems which have committed to participating in the pilot will be able to begin exchanges of electronic phytosanitary certificates by the third quarter of 2017. The IPPC is expected to commission a report into the business plan of the Hub, focussing on costs and benefits; and a sustainable funding plan.

July, 2020.