Nouakchott, 31 March 2026 — Mauritania marked a key milestone in modernising its trade procedures with the official launch of the electronic phytosanitary certification service (ePhyto) in the presence of relevant public and private sector representatives and the Head of Cooperation of the German Embassy in Nouakchott on 31st March
The project, implemented by the Alliance, through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), in collaboration with the Plant Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, replaces paper-based processes with a secure, standardised electronic system under the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), and aiming at making agricultural trade faster, more transparent, and more reliable.
Since its launch in January 2025, the project has delivered key milestones, including the deployment of the ePhyto system (GeNS), training for public and private stakeholders, the provision of IT equipment for key inspection border posts, the introduction of electronic signatures, and consultation on the creation of a link to the national electronic payment system. The first ePhyto certificate for exports was issued in February 2026.
The initiative supports the government’s digital transformation agenda, strengthens the sanitary security of trade, and enhances trust with trading partners. It also improves compliance with international standards and boosts the competitiveness of Mauritanian exports, as highlighted at the event by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Mohamed Yahya Ould Mohamed Mahmoud, and the Head of the Plant Protection Service, Sidi Mohamed Ould El Ghassem.
By simplifying procedures and reducing physical paperwork, the ePhyto solution addresses key challenges such as administrative complexity, delays, and risks of error or document loss. Processing times can be reduced by over 90%, from around 8 hours and 2 visits to the office of the NPPO, to just 20 minutes per certificate for the virtual application, submission and retrieval of certificates, bringing big advantages for the private sector.
“The implementation of ePhyto provides significant support for promoting Mauritanian agricultural exports to international markets. It enables transparent and rapid control of the introduction of crop pests into the country and accelerates certification procedures, which are time-consuming when paper-based” said Moulaye Moulaye Idriss, President of the national union of horticultural professions (UNIH) in Mauritania. The project’s effort is part of the Alliance’s broader efforts to deploy digital trade facilitation solutions in developing countries, making supply chains more efficient, resilient, and sustainable.
