E-certificate a step in right direction
Government departments and agencies around the world are under pressure to become more efficient by incorporating digital technologies and processes into their day-to-day operations.
The launch on May 9 of the e-certificate app by the minister of agriculture, land reform and rural development Thoko Didiza in partnership with the embassy of the Netherlands is a step in the right direction towards digitising government services in SA. It is an online platform to receive, verify, process and deliver certification documentation to trading partners in the export of agricultural products.
Export of agricultural products requires phytosanitary certification by the department’s National Plant Protection Organisation. This includes attestation by competent inspectors and represents guarantees to the importing country’s authorities.
This certificate accompanies a consignment to the port of entry of the importing country. The SA export process requires routine daily issuing of a large number of certificates. The introduction of e-certification by the department enhanced the capacity of phytosanitary inspectors by freeing up a significant amount of time they spent on issuing paper-based certificates.
The digitisation brings efficiency to the certification process, eliminates fraudulent activities through certificate traceability, helps eliminate the problem of lost documents, minimises human error in paperwork and reduces the environmental impact by lowering paper use.
Digital technology allows access to services at lower costs. It also provides convenience as well as customised or personalised services. Furthermore, consumers benefit by getting services quicker because of fewer intermediaries involved. Didiza and her department should be commended for their innovativeness and foresight.