Frequently Asked Questions on Certificates of Free Sale

A food export certificate is a paper or electronic document required by an importing nation that describes and/or attests to animal health, product safety, production or processing methods, packaging, labeling or specific attributes of a food/food ingredient intended for international destinations. An export certificate may also attest to the status of the manufacturing or packaging establishment producing such food/food ingredients for export.

In many cases, foreign governments are seeking official assurance that products exported to their countries can be marketed in the U.S. or meet specific U.S. or State regulations, for example, current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).

Alcoholic beverages

Animals and animal by-products
USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service: veterinary Animal Health Certificates,
certifying animals are free of certain diseases

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms: Wholesaler’s Basic PermitsUSDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service: veterinary Animal Health Certificates,certifying animals are free of certain diseases

Biotechnology
USDA-Foreign Agricultural Service: Biotechnology Certificates

Cosmetics

Federal – FDA-Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN)-Office of Colors and Cosmetics

Dairy products

USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) (for FDA)

Dietary supplements, infant formulas, medical foods

FDA-CFSAN-Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling, and Dietary supplements

Food additives

FDA-CFSAN-Office of Food Additive Safety

Fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, cotton, poultry and tobacco

USDA-AMS: Quality Grading and Certification Services

Grain

USDA-Grain Inspection, Packing and Seed Administration (GIPSA) and occasionally issued by States: Grain Quality Certificates

Irradiated products

USDA-FAS: Irradiation Certificates

Meat, poultry and egg products

USDA-Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS): Certificates of Wholesomeness

Plants and unprocessed plant products

USDA-APHIS (or by States acting under federal contract): Phytosanitary Certificates

Processed foods containing ingredients other than just meat or poultry

FDA-CFSAN-Office of Plant, Dairy Food and Beverages

Seafood and aquaculture products

FDA-CFSAN-Office of Seafood and National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS-NOAA) through its seafood inspection program

What are Phytosanitary Certificates?

Standardized by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), these certificates expedite the entry of plants into a foreign country. USDA-APHIS certifies to the foreign plant protection authority of an importing country that the shipment has been inspected and found to conform to the phytosanitary requirements of that country. In addition, the USDA attests that the shipment is free from quarantinable pathogens and is practically free from other injurious pests. States offering phytosanitary certificates must make sure their certificates are acceptable to the foreign country and that their certificates conform to the IPPC model.

Source, US Food and Drug Administration,