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- Submit a request for phytosanitary certification in PCIT, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) online Phytosanitary Certificate Issuance and Tracking system.
- Provide all required documentation. This may include import permits (IP), bills of lading, manifests, shipping invoices, foreign export certificates, and inspection certificates.
- Present all original official communication from the foreign country with complete English translations. Applicants are responsible for the accuracy of all translations. Documents must be translated completely. Examples of official communication from the foreign country include import permits and letters on official country letterhead.
- Provide third-country import requirements for re-export certification. Re-export certificate applications will not be processed without entry requirements for your commodity, per USDA policy.
- Ensure the commodity is available for inspection, sampling, and testing. The applicant is responsible to ensure the shipment is sampled or inspected before loading containers.
- Provide labor to open and close packages, as well as adequate facilities to perform the inspection. Facilities must include supplies, equipment, and proper lighting for an efficient inspection before certification.
- Arrange for any required treatments, reconditioning, or other actions to meet the import requirements of the foreign country.
- Export only commodities that have been properly inspected and certified under an export certificate.
- Protect the certified shipment from infestation between the date the shipment was sampled and the actual shipping date. Ensure the certified shipment departs within the time limits specified by the importing country.
Adapted from the USDA Export Program Manual, Appendix E: Responsibilities
