Procedure For Issuing Export Certicates for Food Items
When exporting food items, the importing country requests for a health certificate from the food authority of the exporting country, certifying that the product is suitable for human consumption. This is called "export certificate" or "health certificate". Export certificates for exporting food consignments are issued by the Food Control Administration Unit (FCAU) of the Ministry of health certifying that the food is fit for human consumption. Exporting company must be registered at the FCAU as a prequalification for issuing a health certificate for it’s products.
Usual procedure for issuing a certificate is that, a sample is taken by the FCAU officials from the exporting food consignment and is tested at a laboratory, recognized by the FCAU before issuing the certificate. Different countries request different parameters to be included in the certificate. Therefore, the testing parameters can differ from country to country. Hence it is advisable to check with your importing agent before exporting, to avoid any rejections.
Exporters are adviced not to expert food item without obtainnng the health certificate.
Health certificates are issued for following export food items by the FCAU.
- Tea
- Coconut and coconut products
- Rice and rice based products
- Cereals and cereal based products
- Spices and condiments
- Processed and semi processed foods
- Dried fish
- Food packaging materials - Eg. cans, wrapping papers, tags
- Porcelain products
- Any other food items requested by the exporter
Health certificates are not issued for following export food items. They will be issued from the relevant authorities.
Export Certification Procedure
Food establishment registration procedure
Export certificates will be issued only to registered establishment under the FCAU
- For registration, relevant company needs to submit the below mentioned documents to the Food Control Administrative Unit
- Duly filled application form (Food establishment registration form)
- Company registration
- Details of the Director board (Form 01)
- Taxpayer Identification Number Certificate (TIN Certificate) issued by the Department of Inland Revenue
- Value added tax registration certificate (VAT) issued by the Department of Inland Revenue
- Exporters’ registration certificate issued by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (not compulsory)
- Registration certificate issued by Coconut Development Authority (For coconut products)
- Registration certificate issued by Sri Lanka Tea Board (For tea)
- Any other documents
(eg : certificate of Good Manufacturing of Products - GMP, certificate of ISO etc.)
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- Export certificates for exporting food consignments are issued by the food control administration unit, and factory inspection is a pre-requisite for issuing such certificate. A team from FCAU will visit the factories and make sure that the factory is in accordance with the food (hygiene) regulations 2000.
The verification consists of inspection of the entire facility, documentation review, interviews and a briefing to the management. FCAU may refuse to issue Health Certificates for food items produced in factories which do not comply with food (Hygiene) regulations 2009.
The scope of the verification focuses on seven elements
1. Building and Surroundings
2. Hygiene, Biosecurity and Employee Training and Competence
3. Sanitation, Biosecurity, Bio Containment and Pest Control
4. Process
5. Design and Maintenance of Equipment
6. Transportation and Storage
7. Traceability, Controls and Complaints
- If all documents are complete, a bacteriological sample will be taken from various places in the factory for analysis if needed.
- On satisfactory results of the above the company will be registered at FCAU
Food establishment registration form;
Online Application
Export health certificate application procedure (In respect of food consignment exported)
The following documents need to be submitted.
- Duly filled application form
- A sample of the product (sample will be sent for analysis if needed)
- Analysis reports of the product and
- Other relevant documents (Organic certificate- in case an organic product, certificate from Coconut Development Board for desiccated coconut)
Application for Health Certificate in respect of consignment of food intended for export;
Online Application
