The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has recently completed the development of its eFile system. This digital platform is designed to significantly streamline the process of obtaining permits and licences for activities related to animal and plant health, as well as animal welfare.
APHIS eFile serves as a comprehensive online portal for all APHIS-issued registrations, permits, and other licences. It enables stakeholders to apply for and manage their permits and licences electronically, offering real-time tracking of application statuses. This system also automates many of the manual tasks traditionally involved in the permitting and licensing process, enhancing both efficiency and accuracy.
Michael Watson, the Acting Administrator of APHIS, highlighted the significance of this development. “APHIS eFile represents a major advancement in modernising our permitting and licensing procedures,” he stated. “By automating over 70% of our licensing and permitting processes, it simplifies compliance for stakeholders, allowing us to concentrate on safeguarding animal and plant health and welfare.”
The successful implementation of eFile across various APHIS programs has brought about notable improvements for both customers and employees. These programs include Animal Care (AC), Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), Veterinary Services (VS), and Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS).
Some key achievements of the eFile system include:
- AC’s Learning Registration Assistant, has reduced calls to specialists by assisting over 57,100 users.
- VS’s Permitting Assistant, which has prevented unnecessary applications and expedited permit processing, issuing nearly 33,500 permits.
- PPQ’s eFile system, has streamlined permit issuance, reducing processing times from weeks to mere minutes.
- BRS’s Permitting Assistant, has empowered users by enabling them to determine permit requirements before applying.
Currently, APHIS issues and manages all its permits exclusively through the eFile system. For more information about eFile, interested parties are encouraged to visit the APHIS eFile website.
