Apply for an export certificate
Source: gov.uk (2025-02-05)

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. A CFS is not a part of UK export procedures.

The applicant must declare that goods meet the UK’s high safety standards.

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’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Canada and Mexico have yet to ratify the UK’s 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’s accession.

Further guidance is available in the Notice to exporters on the impact of the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on Certificates of Free Sale (CFS) for cosmetic products (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notice-to-exporters-impact-of-the-uks-accession-to-the-cptpp-on-certificates-of-free-sale-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 – Health and Safety Executive (HSE) (https://www.hse.gov.uk/biocides/certificates-of-freesale.htm)
- pesticides – HSE for agricultural: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) and non-agricultural goods: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
- food, drinks and supplements – Rural Payments Agency (RPA) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-certificates-of-free-sale-for-export)
- medicines – Department of Health and Social Care (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/export-drugs-and-medicines-special-rules)
- medical devices – Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/export-medical-devices-special-rules)
- goods that animals have contact with (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-certificates-of-free-sale-for-export), such as veterinary medicines (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/export-drugs-and-medicines-special-rules#animal-medicines) – Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
If your products are not listed, email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx). Include details of the products and their applicable product safety legislation. DBT will advise on whether they can issue a CFS.

Apply for a Certificate of Free Sale (https://apply-for-an-export-certificate.service.gov.uk/login-start/).

If your application for a CFS is successful, you’ll get a digital certificate. You can print the certificate on plain white paper if you need a hard copy.

Certificate of Manufacture (CoM)

A DBT 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 CoM if your pesticides are on free sale in the UK.

Apply for a Certificate of Manufacture (https://apply-for-an-export-certificate.service.gov.uk/login-start/).

Certificate of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMPC)

The Good Manufacturing Practice Certificate (GMPC) only applies to cosmetic products that are being exported to China.

It certifies that a cosmetic brand’s products are manufactured at their UK manufacturing site in compliance with good manufacturing practice as referred to in cosmetic legislation.

Apply for a Good Manufacturing Practice Certificate (https://apply-for-an-export-certificate.service.gov.uk/login-start/).

Legislation

If you export goods from the UK, it is your responsibility as an exporter to follow the rules. Make sure you’re familiar with the guidance on exporting goods from the UK (https://www.gov.uk/export-goods).

Contact details and help

If you need advice on DBT’s export certificates, contact xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Notices to exporters

Notices to exporters are published by DBT’s Import Licensing Branch.

DBT distributes these notices to exporters at the time of publication via mailshots on their export certificate system.

Further information
- Export finance and insurance (https://www.gov.uk/export-finance-insurance)
- Check how to import or export goods (https://www.gov.uk/check-how-to-import-export)
- Export goods from the UK: step by step (https://www.gov.uk/export-goods)
- Get UK customs clearance when exporting goods: step by step (https://www.gov.uk/export-customs-declaration)