WCS Processing New FDA Digital Documents, Business As Usual

WCS Processing New FDA Digital Documents, Business As Usual

Questions have arisen about processing the FDA’s digital documentse-CFG’s, e-CPP’s, and others. The convenience and cost-savings are useful to our clients, as the FDA uploads the documents to the pharmaceutical and medical-device companies in digital format, which eliminates significant handling of physical documents.

Once received, clients send the documents to us at WCS, likewise in digital format—and we take it from there. WCS prints the document and prepares it for submission to the U.S. Department of State, essentially the same handling as there was in the old-school days when FDA delivered the documents as physical “hard copies”.

In summary, there is every reason to welcome the new format, with very little change in procedures.Simply receive the documents in digital form, and upload them to WCS Express, our easy-to-use online ordering platform.

A New Era: China and Canada Join the Apostille Treaty

A New Era: China and Canada Join the Apostille Treaty

The past two months have marked a monumental shift in the landscape of transnational commerce. In December 2023 and January 2024, two of the world’s largest nations ratified a treaty that has revolutionized the process of global document authentication.

Sixty-three years ago, at the Hague Conference in the Netherlands, the Apostille Treaty was drafted to streamline the authentication of documents.  The traditional practice of stamping various documents, from shipping to manufacturing and academic transcripts, at Embassies of the destination countries, often resulted in delays of weeks or even months. This hindered the smooth flow of goods and services in an increasingly interconnected global economy.

The Apostille Treaty introduced a groundbreaking approach, allowing nations to abandon the cumbersome processes of the past. Early adopters of this streamlined process included Western European nations. As time progressed, countries throughout Latin America, Russia, Turkey, and others joined the treaty, eliminating the need for embossed, ceremonial stamps that, while charming, impeded the efficiency of global trade. The U.S. ratified the Treaty, too, but not until 1981.

Despite the benefits, some nations continued to resist, and some still do, representing a wide array of geographies and political profiles. Recent years, however, have seen great strides forward, with notable holdouts such as Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore, among others, joining the Apostille Treaty.

A significant turning point occurred when China, which had for decades remained bound to the traditional process, announced it would transition to the Apostille Treaty. The scheduled switch took place in December 2023, and today, as the New Year unfolds, China-bound documents are moving through the streamlined Apostille process.

Surprising to many, Canada, often aligned with the political culture of Western Europe and the U.S., had also been a long-term holdout. As of January 11, 2024, however, Canada, too, has joined the ranks of Apostille countries.

Celebrating 40 years of document authentication, WCS has been at the forefront of the transformative shift in document authentication. Specialized in both Apostilles and Legalizations, WCS maintains a keen emphasis on Customer Experience and technology investment. WCS Express stands out as the most advanced online ordering platform in the industry.

As WCS continues to seamlessly facilitate transitions for new Treaty members, including the recent additions of China and Canada, we invite you to visit www.wcss.com. Learn more about our services and sign up for an online account to experience true expertise in document authentication.

China-is-Up-and-Running

China is Up and Running

China has taken a giant step forward to simplify and improve the process of global document authentication.

Sixty years after the creation of the Apostille Treaty in The Hague, Netherlands, hastening the flow of crucial documents across borders, China has ratified the treaty. Then, in January of 2024, Canada will join the treaty system, leaving a shrinking group of nations to with the traditional system.

Not alone among long-term holdouts, which include Indonesia, Canada, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey, and others, the China-process involved costly fees and weeks spent at local Consulates waiting for stamping to be completed. This was all a product of hallowed traditions, in which sovereign nations applied diplomatic and bureaucratic certifications to inbound documents. Compounded with the time required at the government agencies of the issuing countries, delivery of products and services was often delayed, against the backdrop of rapidly modernizing transportation and digital communications.

Along the way from 1961 to present, China’s procedures for dispute resolution and other matters were unable to be reconciled with the Hague Convention, the international body that created the treaty. Major corporations and law firms became involved in specific dispute-resolutions. Prior to the Apostille Treaty, China had ratified another vital Hague Convention Treaty in 2005, the Hague Convention on Protection of Children, governing Inter-Country adoptions.

With China’s ratification of the Treaty on November 7, 2023, the number of signatory countries, from Brazil to India, totals 124. With many of the previous holdouts also joining in the last several years, the old ways of document authentication are disappearing into history. For global manufacturers and marketers, adopting parents, transnational workers, exchange students, and bi-national families, the savings in time and money are considerable—and often critical to the flow of global trade and travel.

Today, all you need is to notarize your document in the jurisdiction-of-origin. Once this is done, simply submit an online order through WCS Express™, and we will handle the rest for you.

Visit Washington Consular Service today and click on the ORDER NOW tab to access online ordering. 

Indonesian flag blowing in clear skies

Indonesia Joins the Apostille Treaty

On June 4, 2022, Indonesia, a powerhouse nation with a growing population of 270 million, joined the Apostille Treaty, marking the 61st anniversary of the treaty’s accord. 

Created in 1961 at the Hague Convention in the Netherlands, the Apostille Treaty currently has 121 signatory nations—participating in a simplified process for transborder documents. The apostille system greatly reduces the red tape required for vital transactions. Pharmaceutical approvals, shipping documents, academic records, adoption papers, powers-of-attorney—all these transactions benefit from the streamlined apostille process. Largely replaced has been the traditional methods of legalization requiring Embassy review and approval of documents.

Today, any document having both origination and destination in apostille countries can be authenticated in one step. Traditional legalization can take up to several weeks—or in some cases months—under Covid restrictions.

The work of the Hague Convention, however, remains incomplete. Indonesia’s signing of the Apostille Treaty signals a milestone for a treaty which has yet to attract the approval of countries as diverse as Canada, China, Egypt, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia. 

Underscoring the significance of this event, is Indonesia’s presence in the global pharmaceutical market. Pharmaceuticals and medical devices comprise a significant portion of transborder documentation. In 2021, Indonesia ranked as the largest market in the ASEAN regions, with a value of USD $10.11 billion.

The road to the Hague was a long one for Indonesia. The Hague Convention itself, little known in most circles, has a storied past, dating back to the 1890’s and including matters of diplomacy that range from arms control and rules-of-war to cross-border adoptions. The Apostille Treaty has been among its most successful contributions to international relations and global trade.

In recent times, its application has shifted largely to pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Highly regulated to protect the public, pharma has become a fully globalized industry. Transborder mergers and acquisitions mark a commercial landscape where manufacturing is frequently off-shored and medicinal products are then distributed to countries around the globe. 

For Indonesia, the move to apostilles promises to improve the business climate. By offering this time-and-cost-saving method, the giant South Pacific nation intends to enhance its competitive position.

And for companies and individuals doing business in Indonesia, life just got easier.

flag of bolivia

Bolivia Document Legalization Procedure Update

The Embassy of Bolivia has just announced a change in procedure for document legalization. All non-government-issued documents, or “General Documents,” must be notarized and certified locally by the Secretary of State of their issue. This procedure is the same for government-issued documents. Examples of General Documents include:

Corporate documents such as:
  • Powers of Attorney
  • Corporate Formation Documents
  • Distributorship Agreements
  • Company bylaws
  • Good standing certificates
  • Minutes of board meetings
  • Affidavits
​Academic documents such as:
  • Accreditation letters
  • Authorization letters to obtain academic records
  • Bar certificates
  • Degrees
  • Diplomas
  • Official transcripts
  • Practice licenses for nurses and physicians
  • Statements of study major
  • Teaching certification
  • Verification letters from the registrar’s office

For more information on document legalization for Bolivia, visit the Bolivia country page on our website.

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