APHIS completes transition to eFile system

[Laura Bies]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS )has completed the transition to its new eFile system, a digital platform that streamlines the permitting and licensing process for animal and plant health and animal welfare activities.

APHIS's Veterinary Services program is now issuing all permits for import, export, and transportation of animals and animal products, organisms, and vectors through the new eFile system.

Instructions about applying for the necessary permits to import to or export from the U.S. can be found in the Ornithological Council’s Import Guide.  If you have questions, please contact the OC!

*****

APHIS PRESS RELEASE

APHIS eFile Streamlines Permitting and Licensing for Faster, Simpler Process

Contact: 
APHISpress@usda.gov

WASHINGTON - December 20, 2023 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announces completion of its eFile system, a digital platform that streamlines the permitting and licensing process for animal and plant health and animal welfare activities.

APHIS eFile is a one-stop shop for all APHIS-issued registrations, permits, and other licenses. It allows stakeholders to apply for and manage permits and licenses online and provides real-time tracking of application status. APHIS eFile also automates many of the manual tasks involved in the permitting and licensing process, making it more efficient and accurate.

“APHIS eFile is a major step forward in modernizing our permitting and licensing process,” said Michael Watson, APHIS Acting Administrator. “It automates more than 70% of our licensing and permitting processes and makes it easier for stakeholders to comply with our regulations, so we can focus on protecting animal and plant health and welfare.”

APHIS’ Animal Care (AC), Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), Veterinary Services (VS), and Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) programs now all successfully provide customers and stakeholder services through eFile.  

APHIS eFile's successful implementation across these programs has yielded significant improvements for both customers and employees. AC's Learning Registration Assistant reduced calls to specialists by assisting over 57,100 users, while VS's Permitting Assistant helped avoid unnecessary applications and accelerated permit processing, issuing nearly 33, 500 permits. PPQ's eFile streamlined permitting issuance, reducing processing time from weeks to minutes, while BRS's Permitting Assistant empowered users by enabling them to determine permit requirements before applying. These achievements showcase APHIS’ efforts through eFile to modernize its regulatory services for its customers while ultimately supporting the Agency’s mission of safeguarding animal and plant health.

APHIS issues and manages all APHIS permits exclusively through eFile. To learn more about eFile, please visit the APHIS’ eFile website.