Philippine exporters to the European Union (EU) need to be aware of the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES), the European Commission’s online platform for the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) certificates that are required for the importation of animals and animal products, non-animal-origin food and feed products, and plants into the EU.
Among the important functions of TRACES are to facilitate the issuance of paperless certificates, enable the exchange of data in real time, and simplify and speed up customs procedures, according to European resource persons in a recent webinar organized by the Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB).
The EC official website says the main impact of the TRACES system is the streamlining of the certification process and entry procedures through a fully digitized and paperless workflow.
Electronic certification does away with printed certificates and physical signatures. As such, electronic signatures speed up administrative procedures and streamline storage of information processed, according to the EC.
This has revolutionized the traditional SPS certification practice by enabling both EU and non-EU authorities to stamp digitally official documents and certificates, the webinar presenters said.
And once signed, the document remains unchanged, which is a marker of authenticity and security in terms of traceability of sanitary documentation.
“The trader no longer needs to travel to collect certificates because everything happens in the system. The application is submitted to the control body, the control body approves the EC certificate electronically, and all the information is in the system. There is a real exchange between the competent authorities in the EU and [those in the exporting country], and the trader. And so all information circulates in real time,” according to an EC overview video.
The EC established the TRACES system way back in 2004 to create a single, integrated computerized veterinary system for the recording of intra-Union movements and imports of animals and certain goods. Essentially, TRACES ensures European citizens that the food reaching their plates is safe by tracking and monitoring the movement of products through the agriculture food chain.
In 2022, the TRACES Classic platform was decommissioned and all TRACES operations were moved to the TRACES NT (New Technology) platform to support the digitization of certification procedures. In that year, over 2.3 million documents were signed electronically, replacing documents of paper format.
The issuing of certificates through TRACES became mandatory on January 1, 2023. As of November 2024, TRACES is in use in around 90 countries around the world by more than 113, 000 users for the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary certificates and official documents required for imports, intra-EU movements, and exports from the EU of animals and goods.
System users include the EU member states, third countries, exporters, importers, and carriers.
TRACES is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, free of charge. To access the system, only internet connection and an EU login account are required.
Those interested to open an account in the system may get in touch with the DTI-EMB.
