A phytosanitary certificate is an official document issued by a plant regulatory official in the United States to a United States exporter. In Michigan these documents can be issued by specially trained Michigan Department of Agriculture or the USDA staff. These credentialed staff that are trained in export certification is referred to as Authorized Certification Officials or “ACOs’”.

Phytosanitary certificates are official documents which certify that the plants or plant products have been officially inspected, are free from quarantine pests, are practically free from other injurious pests, and conform to the current phytosanitary regulations of the importing country. Each importing country determines its own phytosanitary regulations.

There are two kinds of phytosanitary certificates used, depending on the origin of the product.

1. Phytosanitary Certificate (PPQ Form 577) - This document is used to certify domestic plants or unprocessed plant products for export. Domestic means grown in the U.S., Puerto Rico or a U.S. possession.
   
   
2. Phytosanitary Certificate for Re-Export (PPQ Form 579) - This document is used to certify foreign-origin plants or plant products for re-export from the United States to a foreign country. Naturally, a number of conditions must be met.