The Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism (MTTI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), has officially launched the Export ePhytosanitary Certificate (ePhyto) service on TTBizLink. It became fully operational on October 1, 2026.
This major digital upgrade significantly improves the ease of doing business in Trinidad and Tobago by making cross-border agricultural trade faster, more transparent, fully traceable and paperless.
Key Strategic Highlights:
- End-to-End Digitalization & Time Savings: Exporters can now apply for, process and track ePhytos entirely online, eliminating manual delays. By allowing exporters to enter their information directly into the system in advance, processing time per certificate is expected to drop by approximately 60%, reducing handling from 30 minutes down to just 12 minutes per application.
- Global Interoperability: Trinidad and Tobago has officially integrated with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Hub. This enables direct, secure digital transmission of ePhyto certificates to international customs and quarantine authorities worldwide.
- Streamlined Export Clearances: The Plant Quarantine Service (PQS) processes approximately 100 Phytosanitary Certificates monthly, or nearly 1,200 annually. The new system enables PQS to issue required pest-free certifications with greater speed and security, directly supporting national non-energy export targets.
- Comprehensive Range of Certified Produce & Plant Products: The service covers a wide spectrum of exported goods, including ornamental plants, fruit plants, vegetative planting material, seeds for propagation, re-exported peas and beans, lumber, fresh produce for consumption and plant parts for scientific research.
- Diverse Exporter Base Supported: The digital service supports a wide range of stakeholders, including farmers, commercial nurseries, wood-based manufacturers, research institutions, re-exporters and individual travelers shipping or carrying regulated agricultural goods.
Exporters are reminded that phytosanitary certification remains guided by the specific import permit conditions of the destination country. Anyone requesting an ePhyto Certificate must present a valid import permit from the importing jurisdiction.
The upgrade advances MTTI’s work to improve the ease of doing business and expand nonenergy exports. A simpler certification process helps local producers fulfil overseas orders with less time spent on paperwork.
For further details or assistance, please contact Plant Quarantine Services (PQS),
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries:
Phone: 280-7938
Email: pqinspections@gov.tt
