What is “CertEX” and how does the system work?

In NL/EU day‑to‑day practice, people often use “CertEX” as an umbrella term for the digital certificates/official controls workflow around (pre‑)notification and border controls. The core is:

• TRACES NT is the EU system where consignments that fall under SPS/official controls are notified using a CHED:
  • CHED-P (plants/plant products),
  • CHED-A (animals),
  • CHED-PP (products of animal origin / POAO),
  • CHED-D (certain goods / food & feed of non‑animal origin, depending on the regime).
• In the Netherlands this is commonly referred to as “GGB” (Gemeenschappelijk Gezondheidsdocument bij Binnenkomst) — in practice the Dutch naming/handling of the CHED workflow.

Process at a glance (end‑to‑end):

1. Scope check: does the commodity/consignment fall under EU “official controls” (phytosanitary, veterinary, high‑risk FNAO, etc.)?
2. Pre‑notification: importer/agent creates a CHED/GGB in TRACES NT and attaches:
   • consignment details (origin, destination, HS/commodity code, quantities, packaging),
   • documents (certificates, analyses, attestations),
   • logistics (BIP/BCP, ETA, container/vessel/flight data).
3. Arrival & controls by NVWA/BCP:
   • documentary check,
   • identity check,
   • (where applicable) physical check / sampling.
4. Decision: release / release with conditions / rejection / redirection / destruction / re‑export.
5. Downstream effect: release is often a prerequisite for customs clearance and onward movement.

Important: a CHED/GGB is consignment‑based, not “product‑based”. You can’t use one CHED indefinitely for multiple physical shipments.