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    FOOD MANUFACTURING, PACKING, HOLDING AND DISTRIBUTION

    Certificate of Free Sale

    Overview

    Effective July 1, 2025, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) will no longer issue certificates of free sale for vitamin and supplement manufacturers as PDA does not have regulatory authority over these products. Certificate of export requests for these products shall be directed to the FDA through the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) at CFSANExportCertification@fda.hhs.gov or 240-402-2307. PDA will, as a courtesy, continue to issue certificates of free sale for vitamin and supplements only when it relates to the export of such products from a registered warehouse or distribution center within Pennsylvania. The Establishment must be registered with the PDA (including the $35 fee), and PDA will conduct GMP and Sanitation inspections in these facilities.

     

    PDA will only approve Certificates of Free Sale for Pennsylvania facilities.

    These include food and dairy:

    • Manufacturers
    • Processors
    • Packers
    • Warehouses
    • Plant manufacturers

    PDA must inspect, permit, and license register all establishments requesting certificates.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

    Certificate Information

    • CFS - Certificate of Free Sale
    • COH - Certificate of Health
    • COH & FS - Certificate of Health & Free Sale
    • CMP - Certificate of Good Manufacturing Practices
    • COO - Certificate of Origin
    • LOC – Letter of Certification
    • COFS,S,P – Certificate of Free Sale, Sanitary, Purity
    • COFS,S,P,O – Certificate of Free Sale, Sanitary, Purity, Origin

    • Current valid Pennsylvania Registration, Permit with the PDA.
    • A recent inspection of the facility completed by PDA.

    • All requests must be emailed to RA-AGPACERTOFFREESAL@pa.gov.
    • We will process applications received after 9:00 am the next business day. Moving this up on the list
    • Processing time is 6-14 business days.
    • Rush service is 2-5 business days.
    • A maximum of 10 products per application.
    • Products that exceed 10 require a separate application and fee.
    • Certificates are limited to one (1) country per certificate
    • We will mail certificates via U.S. Mail unless you provide us with a UPS prepaid printed shipping label.
    • Individual applications can be found in the side bar.

    • Submitted application will serve as an Official Invoice upon receipt of your Certificates.
    • The cost of a Certificate is $50.00 per Certificate, effective July 1, 2019.
    • Additional rush service charge is $30.00.

    All fees are subject to change.                                                                                          

     

    When you receive your certificate, please return your application with payment to:

    Bureau of Food Safety & Laboratory Services
    2301 N Cameron Street, Room112
    Harrisburg, PA 17110

     

    Contact us

    If you have any questions, please email them to RA-AGPACERTOFFREESAL@pa.gov.