New technologies to respond to new challenges: How UN/CEFACT electronic standards help Governments to better control international trade in agriculture and bio-trade to protect their citizens and economies from the spread of pests and zoonoses
In Focus
UNECE, through its Center for Trade Facilitation and electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) develops international standards for electronic information exchange and the implementation of efficient trade control procedures.In the area of agriculture and wildlife trade governments control the exchange of animals, plants and other agricultural products through the issuance and exchange of licenses, permits and certificates (LPCs). These documents and the underlying controls ensure the legality of trade and aim to prevent illegal trade and the transmission of pests and diseases which can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonosis).
Currently these documents are mainly issued and exchange in paper format. However, information in a physical format is slow and paper documents are very vulnerable to fraudulent use. Criminals find ample opportunities to alter or forge documents, thus preventing efficient implementation of sanitary and phytosanitary controls thus exposing the population of entire countries to risks of new diseases.
These activities are summarized in the eCITES agenda which aims to establish an efficient end-to-end control of CITES listed trade by using modern UN/CEFACT eBusiness standards and technologies.
- Documents
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Policy brief on UNECE instruments to improve control of agriculture and bio-trade.
UNECE Press release on how UN/CEFACT digital standards can help governments reduce the risk of disease transmission from animals and facilitate legal trade - Events and Meetings
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UNECE/UNESCAP Task Force on eCITES EPIX Pilots, 6 July 2022 11:00 - 12:00, Virtual meeting Geneva Switzerland
Workshop on CITES electronic Permit Information eXchange (EPIX) for Parties from the UNECE and ESCAP Region (virtual workshop), 8 - 9 April 2020, 09:00 – 12:00 (Geneva time)
- Secretariat Contacts
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Markus Pikart
Economic Cooperation and Trade Division
UNECE
Sangwon Lim
Trade, Investment and Innovation Division
UNESCAP