Bangkok: NT officially launches the B2B ePhyto Exchange system, upgrading the export process of Thai plants and plant products to a fully digital system, increasing the country’s competitiveness in the global trade arena.
According to Thai News Agency, Dr. Wongkot Vijaksangsit, Senior Executive Vice President, Digital and Solutions, NT, together with Mr. Francis Lopez, President of InterCommerce and Deputy Chair, PAA Digital Trade Alliance, jointly launched the electronic phytosanitary certificate exchange system for businesses. This collaboration marks a significant step for Thailand. As a central platform provider (THAI NSW), NT has partnered with both public and private sectors, including InterCommerce from the Philippines as a system developer and interconnector for international B2B ePhyto exchanges. The Department of Agriculture acts as the issuer of electronic phytosanitary certificates (ePhyto), while the Department of Customs supervises and supports data standard interconnections. The National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards (ACFS) supports phytosanitary standards and coordinates at the international level. Together, they aim to enhance the country’s competitiveness through the B2B ePhyto Exchange
system.
Mr. Francis Lopez highlighted that the collaboration between InterCommerce and NT facilitates cross-border trade by promoting document exchange between business sectors. The exchange of electronic phytosanitary certificates (ePhyto) for the import and export of agricultural products between the Philippines and Thailand is the initial step towards initiating B2B exchanges between the two countries. InterCommerce and NT are long-standing partners and members of the PAA Digital Trade Alliance, a digital platform with over 18 members who are NSW service providers and electronic data link providers from countries across the region.
Mr. Chaisak Rinkeun, Director of the Bureau of Plant and Agricultural Materials Control, Department of Agriculture, emphasized the department’s role as the issuer of electronic phytosanitary certificates. Joining the ePhyto Exchange system in the B2B format will expedite the data exchange process between public and business sectors, aligning with international standards. The department supports Thai entrepreneurs by providing information, procedures, and system integration to efficiently use the ePhyto system, fostering global trade in the digital age and building trust among trading partners.
Mr. Kan Klaysuban, Director of the Import, Export and Logistics Data Linkage Management and Development Division, Customs Department, stated that the Customs Department, as the main agency overseeing the Thailand National Single Window platform, is committed to continuous development. The department aims to modernize the system to meet internationally accepted standards, facilitating successful data linkage with other countries. The exchange of phytosanitary certificate information, or e-Phyto Certificate, is a near-future goal, with plans for bilateral linkage with China and expedited linkage through the IPPC and ASEAN Single Window.
Ms. Rujira Chanaram, Director of the Group of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreements and Others, ACFS, noted that ACFS plays a crucial role in coordinating and negotiating with trading partners to test the exchange of e-Phyto data. Discussions in various negotiation forums have allowed Thailand to test and start actual data exchange with trading partners in several countries, both through the ASEAN Single Window (ASW), IPPC Hub, and point-to-point connections. A joint working group on electronic sanitary and phytosanitary certificates (e-SPS) has been established to drive operations in the same direction.
Dr. Wongkot Vijaksangsit revealed that NT, as the organization providing the National Single Window system, has expanded services from B2G and G2G to B2B. The launch of the B2B ePhyto Exchange system is a collaboration between NT and InterCommerce Philippines, with plans to expand to other countries, facilitating entrepreneurs in both nations.