Free Sale Certificates and Free Sale Statements for food exports

If you are exporting food products manufactured in New Zealand, you may need a Free Sale Certificate (FSC) or a Free Sale Statement (FSS).

About food export certificates

If you are exporting food products manufactured in New Zealand, you may need an FSC or an FSS to facilitate trade to some overseas markets.

If the food products contain significant animal product ingredients (such as meat, dairy or honey) you may need other certification. Check the Overseas Market Access Requirements (OMAR) for the relevant country to find out what you need.

Search for an OMAR

Free Sale Certificates

An FSC is issued for food manufactured in New Zealand. It helps with clearance of your consignment in foreign markets that require a statement about the food's safety and suitability. If you are exporting food or food-related products, the importer in the destination country can tell you if you need an FSC.

Free Sale Statements

An FSS is issued for food manufactured in New Zealand. It helps with a food product's registration in a foreign market before its first entry.

An FSS can be issued for products that are exempt under clause 17 of the Animal Products (Exemption and Inclusions) Order 2000 (such as multi-ingredient foods that don't require official assurances).

Register if you are a new client

If you are applying for an FSC or an FSS for the first time, you must register as a client with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). Complete the CERT1 form and email it to the address on the registration form. You can email it together with your FSS or FSC application.

How to apply for an FSC

For food exports (other than grape wine)

Apply for an FSC for food exports (including fruit wine, cider, mead and processed food) using the CERT2 form. To help us prepare your certificate quickly and accurately, type all information and email the completed form as a Word document. Hand-written or scanned applications may take longer to process.

Get a manufacturer's declaration

You'll also need to get the manufacturer(s) to complete a declaration form confirming that the product meets all applicable standards for food safety and suitability. Ask the manufacturer(s) to complete a CERT3 form.  Ask them to type all information and email the completed form to you as a Word document.

For grape wine exports

Check if the destination market requires an FSC for grape wine.

Apply for an FSC through Wine E-Cert. For information on accessing Wine E-Cert, read step 2 of our steps to exporting New Zealand grape wine.

How to apply for an FSS

For food exports (other than grape wine)

Apply for an FSS for food exports (including fruit wine, cider, mead, and processed food) using the CERT4 form. To help us prepare your certificate quickly and accurately, type all information and email the completed form as a Word document. Hand-written or scanned applications may take longer to process. 

For grape wine exports

Apply for an FSS through Wine E-Cert.

For information on accessing Wine E-Cert, read step 2 of our steps to exporting New Zealand grape wine.

Thailand food quality assurance system certificates 

If you want to export food products to Thailand that are for human consumption, you may need a food quality assurance system certificate. This is also known as a ‘product registration’ or ‘GMP’ certificate. Manufacturers should check with their importer if they need one. Be aware that Thailand will not accept:

  • Risk Management Programme registrations
  • Food Control Plan registrations
  • National Programme registrations
  • Free Sale Advice Statements
  • Free Sale Certificates.

Apply for a food quality assurance system certificate

The application process depends on whether your product is animal-based.

For animal-based food products

Follow the instructions in the Thailand Overseas Market Access Requirements. The OMAR includes a list of the 66 food products that these requirements apply for.

For food products that aren't animal-based

Complete and submit this application form:

Email it to FreeSalesApplications@mpi.govt.nz. The form includes guidance. In Annex 1, there's a list of the 66 food products that these requirements apply for.

Background

Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration requires that 66 different food products follow Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) when they're made. These products include:

  • animal-based products (like meat, dairy, and honey)
  • products that aren't animal-based (like fresh fruit and vegetables).

To meet Thailand’s FDA GMP requirements, we've created food quality assurance system certificates. These certificates are required at different stages of the import process. This includes for product registration, and for clearance of consignments at the Thai border.

Who to contact

If you have questions about Free Sale Certificates of Free Sale Statements, email FreeSalesApplications@mpi.govt.nz

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