Chile accelerates paperless export systems

Chile is pushing ahead with a full digital shift in phytosanitary logistics, aiming to cut costs and speed up fresh-fruit exports through the global rollout of electronic phytosanitary certificates (ePhyto).

According to the main national fruit-industry association, Frutas de Chile, the system began operating with Brazil on 10 November, a key step for the country’s main Latin American fruit market, which received more than 158,000 tonnes last season.

The fruit industry exported over 3 million tonnes last year, and industry leaders say digital certificates are essential for reducing delays, improving transparency, and protecting time-sensitive perishables.

Frutas de Chile’s general manager, Miguel Canala-Echeverría, noted that electronic documents are secure, instant and eliminate days of waiting when paper certificates need corrections or replacements.

SAG officials added that ePhyto also helps cut export costs, reduce fraud and streamline border procedures in major destinations such as the US, China, Peru, Korea, Bolivia and Brazil.

Current data shows that 166,000 of the 199,000 certificates issued via the multipoint system are already electronic, representing 81.34% of total volume. The industry estimates that full implementation could save the fruit sector around US$180 million per year.

Chile is now working with India, Ecuador, Japan, Russia, Thailand and Australia, which together imported more than 192,000 tonnes of fruit last season, to expand the system. A pilot with China — Chile’s top market with over 770,000 tonnes received — is expected to become fully operational across all ports by December.

source: frutasdechile.cl

photo: aduananews.com