Phytosanitary certificate for exporting fruit, vegetables and plants from BiH

A phytosanitary certificate is an official document confirming that a plant shipment (fresh fruit, vegetables, planting material and similar) meets the plant health requirements of the destination country. It is needed when the importing or transit country requires it. It concerns every exporter from BiH, including small producers who export through buyers or freight forwarders.

In short

• The export certificate is green; the re-export certificate (for goods imported from a third country and sent on) is brown.
• The request is filed in writing at least 24 hours before loading.
• The inspector must examine the shipment at the loading site before issuing. Loading must not start without the inspector's consent.
• In Republika Srpska the tax is 20 KM per shipment (tariff number 41), plus a charge that depends on shipment weight.
• The exporter receives the original; the inspector keeps the copy.

Who it applies to

Exporters of plants and plant products from BiH when the destination country requires a phytosanitary certificate. The certificate is issued by a phytosanitary inspector of the competent entity inspectorate or of Brčko District. For producers in East Herzegovina this is the phytosanitary inspection of the Inspektorat Republike Srpske (Inspectorate of Republika Srpska).

What to do

1. Before agreeing a deal, check the plant health requirements of the importing country (list of quarantine pests and special requirements). Special requirements are written in the "Additional declaration" field of the certificate.
2. Pay the tax and charge into the Republika Srpska budget account. The payment slip must be stamped by the bank or post office, or, if electronic, by the forwarding agent.
3. At least 24 hours before loading, file a written request with the phytosanitary inspector (the form is Annex VII to Rulebook 59/11) with the documents accompanying the shipment and proof of payment.
4. The inspector checks the documents, then examines the shipment at the loading site and, if needed, takes samples for a laboratory. Exceptionally, for a justified reason, the examination may be done at the point of exit from BiH, but not for plants intended for sowing or planting.
5. If the importing country's requirements are met, the inspector issues the certificate. If not, the request is rejected by a decision (rješenje).
6. For re-export, attach the original certificate that accompanied the shipment when it was imported.

Deadlines and amounts

• Request: at least 24 hours before loading.
• Tax for a request to issue a phytosanitary certificate in Republika Srpska: 20 KM per shipment. A shipment is one vehicle in road, air and river transport, or one wagon in rail transport.
• The charge for the health examination of the shipment depends on weight; confirm the exact amount with the Inspectorate before filing. The fee is charged regardless of the outcome of the inspection.

Where to go

• Inspektorat Republike Srpske, Republička uprava za inspekcijske poslove (Republic Administration for Inspection Activities), Trg Republike Srpske 8, Banja Luka, tel. +387 51 334 627, uprava@inspektorat.vladars.rs. Phytosanitary inspectors also work at the Trebinje customs office, so for shipments from East Herzegovina ask for the nearest inspector.
• Uprava Bosne i Hercegovine za zaštitu zdravlja bilja (Plant Health Protection Administration of BiH) prints the certificate forms and keeps the national database of issued certificates.

Laws and sources

• Pravilnik o fitosanitarnom certifikatu i fitosanitarnom certifikatu za reeksport (Službeni glasnik BiH br. 68/19)
• Pravilnik o mjerama za sprječavanje unošenja, širenja i suzbijanja štetnih organizama na bilju, biljnim proizvodima i reguliranim objektima (Službeni glasnik BiH br. 59/11), art. 17 to 19
• Inspection procedures for import and export, Republic Administration for Inspection Activities
• List of fees and charges related to import and export, Republic Administration for Inspection Activities