The US Government Printing Office (GPO) has hit a milestone in the production of the country’s passport for the Department of State (DOS).

According to the GPO it has produced 75 million ePassports at its secure production facilities in Washington, DC and Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.

The GPO first started producing electronic passports in 2005. The passport includes an integrated, secure chip and antenna. The GPO says it has been responsible for passport production for the DOS since the 1920s.

“This is a significant accomplishment for the GPO and one more step forward in our long history of producing the passport for the Department of State,” says Davita Vance-Cooks, acting public printer.

“We appreciate the GPO’s continued support of the Department and our efforts to modernise the US passport. Passport issuance, a function of the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, is our most visible domestic public service programme, and we look forward to continuing our healthy and collaborative relationship with GPO,” says Michael D Kirby, principal deputy assistant secretary of State for Consular Affairs.