Apply for an export certificate
Apply for an export certificate to establish products in overseas markets.
Certificates of Free Sale
Exporters can apply for a Certificate of Free Sale (CFS) to help them to access certain overseas markets. 础听CFS听is not a part of UK export procedures.
The applicant must declare that goods meet the UK鈥檚 high safety standards.听
Certificates of Free Sale for cosmetic products
A CFS for cosmetic products is no longer required to market, distribute or sell products in the following countries:
- Australia
- Brunei
- Chile
- Japan
- Malaysia
- New Zealand
- Peru
- Singapore
- Vietnam
This is because of the UK鈥檚 accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Canada and Mexico have yet to ratify the UK鈥檚 accession to CPTPP, so all exports and imports to those countries are still subject to pre-CPTPP rules. These will not change until those countries ratify the UK鈥檚 accession.
Further guidance is available in the Notice to exporters on the impact of the UK鈥檚 accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on Certificates of Free Sale (CFS) for cosmetic products.
How to apply for a Certificate of Free Sale
To apply for a Certificate of Free Sale, contact the relevant organisation for your sector and goods:
- biocides 鈥撎�
- pesticides 鈥� HSE for agricultural:听[email protected]听and non-agricultural goods:听[email protected]
- food, drinks and supplements 鈥撎�Rural Payments Agency (RPA)
- medicines 鈥撎�Department of Health and Social Care
- medical devices 鈥撎�Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- goods that animals have contact with, such as听veterinary medicines听鈥� Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs鈥�(Defra)
If your products are not listed, email [email protected]. Include details of the products and their applicable product safety legislation.听DBT听will advise on whether they can issue a听CFS.
.听听听
If your application for a听CFS听is successful, you鈥檒l get a digital certificate. You can print the certificate on plain white paper if you need a hard copy.听听
Certificate of Manufacture (CoM)
础听DBT听Certificate of Manufacture (CoM) solely applies to pesticides that are for export-only markets and will not be placed on the UK market.
You do not need a听CoM听if your pesticides are on free sale in the UK.听听
听. 听
Certificate of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMPC)
The Good Manufacturing Practice Certificate (GMPC) only applies to cosmetic products that are being exported to China.听
It certifies that a cosmetic brand鈥檚 products are manufactured at their UK manufacturing site in compliance with good manufacturing practice as referred to in cosmetic legislation.听听
.
Legislation
If you export goods from the UK, it is your responsibility as an exporter to follow the rules. Make sure you鈥檙e familiar with the听guidance on exporting goods from the UK.
Contact details and help
If you need advice on听DBT鈥檚 export certificates, contact [email protected].
Notices to exporters
Notices to exporters are published by DBT鈥檚 Import Licensing Branch.
DBT distributes these notices to exporters at the time of publication via mailshots on their export certificate system.
Further information
Updates to this page
-
Information added to the 'Certificates of Free Sale' section to indicate which countries do not need a CFS for cosmetic products following the UK acceding to Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
-
First published.