Argus-Phyto to Speed Up Verification of Phytosanitary Documents

All Certificates in One System

The Federal State Information System (FGIS) Argus-Phyto addresses a core challenge in agricultural trade: the automated issuance and accounting of phytosanitary supervision documents. The system registers companies that require phytosanitary certificates for agricultural products, as well as market participants who need to verify the authenticity of such documents provided by suppliers.

The system has significantly simplified work with phytosanitary documentation for imported fruits and vegetables. Previously, document authenticity had to be verified and certified through embassies of exporting countries. Now the process is transparent. All data is stored in a centralized electronic database accessible to all market participants. Each shipment is assigned a unique identifier that makes it possible to track the country of origin, transport details, and final destination.

FGIS operations are fully digital. Companies that require quarantine certificates create personal accounts in Argus-Phyto. Applications are submitted using a qualified electronic digital signature. As a result, verifying the authenticity of a quarantine certificate has become straightforward. Users simply enter the document number, and the system displays the issuance date and current status.

Fraud Is No Longer an Option

This digital approach minimizes human error in the preparation of phytosanitary documents and accelerates the clearance of transported goods. At the same time, the state has gained a unified electronic archive of phytosanitary documentation that enables rapid information retrieval. The archive supports statistical analysis of goods subject to phytosanitary control and allows authorities to track cargo routes across Russia.

The system has also made accounting for imported plant-based food products fully transparent, including volumes, product types, and transport methods. This improves biosecurity by ensuring reliable verification of both domestic and foreign phytosanitary documents.

It is impossible to monitor the flow of regulated products without electronic systems. We began digitizing supervisory operations back in 2006, when it became clear that without digital tools we would not be able to work quickly and efficiently. <...> The system has automated a vast number of functions and, at certain stages, has fully eliminated the human factor. It automatically generates reports, performs required data selections in a short time, exchanges information with similar systems in other countries, and carries out many other functions. <...> Monitoring of business activities is conducted effectively in real time, without the need for on-site inspections

Sergey Dankvert

Head of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor)

In practical terms, enforcement has become more targeted. In Russia’s Orenburg Region alone, inspectors from the territorial office of Rosselkhoznadzor issued 185 official warnings in early 2025 related to failures to notify authorities about the delivery of regulated goods.

Instant Access Anywhere

The launch of the free Argus-Phyto mobile app takes transparency and safety in phytosanitary control to a new level. One of its core features is instant verification of quarantine, phytosanitary, and re-export certificates issued by Rosselkhoznadzor, as well as inspection reports. Users simply scan the QR code on a document.

This approach eliminates opportunities for fraud. The app removes the risk of being redirected to fake websites that imitate official systems, a common problem in document verification.

Document verification is available to all users without registration. This lowers barriers to adoption and makes the tool accessible to a broad audience. The app is available through RuStore and the Apple App Store.

Supporting Compliant Businesses

The mobile app strengthens oversight of non-compliant suppliers of plant products, preventing them from pushing law-abiding businesses out of the market. For compliant operators, the app serves as a practical operational tool.

Users can track the real-time status of applications submitted for quarantine, phytosanitary, and re-export certificates. The system also supports automated checks of quarantine zones. By entering coordinates or using a mobile device’s geolocation, users can determine whether a given area falls within a regulated zone, allowing businesses to respond quickly to potential risks.

These services do more than reduce administrative friction. They increase trade speed and lower operational risk, which is particularly important for Russian exporters.

Document checks become simpler at every stage of the logistics chain, reducing administrative risks at border crossings. Faster verification enables exporters to pass phytosanitary controls more quickly, streamlining the export of Russian agricultural products.

Simplified and predictable controls make Russian exports more reliable for foreign partners, especially in countries with strict phytosanitary requirements. At the same time, trust in Russia’s phytosanitary control system increases, strengthening the competitive position of Russian agricultural producers in global markets.