Federal document
FDA Certificate of Free Sale
How to apostille an FDA Certificate of Free Sale for exporting food, cosmetics, supplements and devices.
- Issuing agency
- Food and Drug Administration
- We can obtain it?
- No — you request it from the agency
- Certification first?
- No prior certification needed
- Also known as
- CFS, certificate to foreign government, CFG
An FDA Certificate of Free Sale (CFS) confirms that a product is legally sold in the United States, which foreign importers and regulators require before allowing it into their market. For export, the certificate usually needs to be apostilled or legalized.
Why it needs an apostille abroad
The apostille certifies the FDA document for Hague Convention countries; many major export destinations are non-Hague and require embassy legalization instead.
How to get FDA Free Sale Certificate for use overseas
Obtaining the certificate
The CFS is issued by the FDA to the manufacturer or distributor. Once issued, send it to us for authentication. Because export markets are often non-Hague, tell us the destination country so we route it through apostille or full legalization correctly.
Common uses
- Food and beverage export registration.
- Cosmetics and dietary supplements.
- Medical devices entering foreign markets.
FDA Free Sale Certificate apostille by country
Where the document is going decides the process. Hague Convention members accept an apostille; non-Hague countries need embassy legalization on top. Pick your destination:
Ready to start?
Tell us what you have and where it is going. We reply with the correct route, a flat quote and shipping instructions.