The Different Certificates in International Food Trade

The different certificates in international food trade

Exporting and importing food products relies on a dense documentary ecosystem, where each certificate addresses a precise regulatory or commercial requirement. Mastering this ecosystem is essential to avoid customs blockages — a container held up at customs for a missing document can generate considerable port storage costs, not to mention perishable product deterioration.

The certificate of origin

The certificate of origin attests to the country of manufacture or substantial processing of goods. It determines preferential customs duty application under trade agreements. The most used format by Martigane is the EUR.1 certificate, issued by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, allowing tariff preferences under Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) with ACP countries, or EU-Maghreb association agreements. For countries benefiting from the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), Form A is used instead.

The sanitary (or veterinary) certificate

Mandatory for all animal-origin products (meat, fish, dairy), the sanitary certificate is issued in France by veterinary services of the DDPP (Departmental Directorate for Population Protection). It attests the product meets French and European sanitary standards, and generally specifies the establishment of origin (EC approval number), required transport temperature conditions, and absence of declared animal disease in the production area. The exact model varies by destination country — some require a specific bilingual model negotiated under bilateral sanitary agreements.

The phytosanitary certificate

Equivalent of the sanitary certificate for plant products (cereals, dried fruits, pulses), the phytosanitary certificate is issued by DRAAF/SRAL services (Regional Directorate for Food, Agriculture and Forestry). It attests absence of regulated pests and can include specific treatments required by the importing country (fumigation, heat treatment).

The halal certificate

Issued by religious or accredited bodies depending on destination country, the halal certificate attests product compliance with Islamic dietary rules. Bodies vary by origin and destination: SISBRASIL for Brazilian meats (recognised in most sub-Saharan African and Middle Eastern countries), CDH or CIBAL for French meats, the Grand Mosque of Algiers for specific Algerian requirements. The absolute rule: always verify the certification presented is recognised by the importing country.

The MSC / ASC certificate (sustainable fishing)

For fishery products, the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) certificate attests sustainable wild fishing, while the ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) certificate certifies responsible fish farming. Important: these labels require a specific Chain of Custody (CoC) certificate for each batch, demonstrating the complete traceability chain to that precise batch — the brand or supplier certificate alone is not sufficient.

The fumigation certificate

Required for wooden packaging (pallets, crates) exported outside the EU, the fumigation certificate (or ISPM 15 marking) attests heat or chemical treatment of wood to eliminate any pest organism that could be internationally transported. Absence of this marking can result in systematic customs blockage, independent of the transported product's own compliance.

The insurance certificate

Mandatory under a CIF or CIP Incoterm, the insurance certificate specifies the coverage taken out (generally ICC-A "all risks" or ICC-C "major risks"), the insured amount (generally CIF value + 10%), and claim conditions in case of incident during transit.