1. This notice informs inspection program personnel (IPP) that export certificates for meat and poultry exports designated for China will be digitally signed in the Public Health Information System (PHIS) export module beginning July 1, 2024.
2. All export certificates (FSIS Form 9060-5 series) generated through PHIS for China will be digitally signed and printed on plain paper by industry personnel with PHIS access. The PHIS-generated certificate will be printed with a required watermark. Printing from any location in PHIS other than the View Export Records (9060) grid is not permitted when the certificate is digitally signed and printed on plain paper, as the required watermark will not be applied to the printed certificate. Printed, PHIS-generated certificates that do not include the watermark risk rejection by China.
3. All attestations and information as documented in the FSIS Export Library for China will be captured in the FSIS Form 9060-5 remarks section or the FSIS Form 9060-5B (continuation sheet). The FSIS Form 9295-1, all letterhead certificates, and the use of wet ink signed security paper will be eliminated. FSIS IPP will not scan and upload any 9060-5 series certificates for China, as all such certificates will be digitally signed and captured in PHIS. 

BACKGROUND

1. FSIS added China to the PHIS export module on January 27, 2020. Since that time, PHIS has required the export applicant to enter the port of entry, slaughter establishment number, processing establishment number, and seal and container numbers before the application can be approved. Approved export certificates (FSIS Forms 9060-5/9060-5S) and any continuation pages (FSIS Forms 9060-5A/9060-5B) had to be signed with a wet ink signature and printed on FSIS security paper.

2. Starting July 1, 2024, after IPP review and approve the certificate package, PHIS will automatically apply the enhanced digital signature to all pages and upload a digital PDF of the signed export documents into the export task, which IPP are to ensure is completed, saved, and closed in PHIS.

1. Export certificates for meat and poultry exports designated for China will be digitally signed in the PHIS export module;

2. All export certificates (FSIS Form 9060-5 series) generated through PHIS for China will be printed on plain paper by industry personnel with PHIS access and include a watermark when printed;

3. All attestations and information as documented in the FSIS Export Library for China will be captured in the FSIS Form 9060-5 remarks section or the FSIS Form 9060-5B (continuation sheet);

4. The FSIS Form 9295-1, all letterhead certificates, and the use of wet ink signed security paper, will be eliminated;

5. FSIS inspection program personnel will not scan and upload any 9060-5 series certificates for China, as all such certificates will be digitally signed and captured in PHIS;

6. FSIS inspection program personnel will not print any 9060-5 series certificates, printing the certificates is an industry function; and

7. The PHIS Components page of the FSIS website provides additional information for exporters on gaining access to PHIS, as well as additional information regarding use of the PHIS export module.

QUESTIONS
Refer questions regarding this notice or any other export questions to your supervisor or as needed to the Office of Policy and Program Development through askFSIS or by telephone at 1-855-444-9904. When submitting a question, complete the web form and select Export for the inquiry type.

NOTE: Refer to FSIS Directive 5620.1, Using askFSIS, for additional information on submitting questions.