Apply for a food export certificate

You may need a food export certificate if you run a food business and want to export food outside the European Union. The certificate shows that the food complies with EU food safety legislation.

Export certificates are not required when products are distributed within the EU.

Your food business needs to be registered with National Environmental Health Service (NEHS) to get an export certificate.

Apply now

Apply for your export certificate through the National Environmental Health Service online.

Before you start

You will need:

• your food premises reference number
• your food premises details
• exporter/importer details including country of destination
• product details including manufacturer and quantities
• copy of the product label (or commercial documentation accompanying the consignment)
• where an importing country needs a specific declaration about the food on the export certificate you must provide this text for assessment

What happens next

Once you have completed your application you will get a confirmation email with your online reference number.

It may take up to 15 working days to get your certificate, particularly for new applicants. We will send this to the address you provided in the application.

You can check the status of your application online. If you have not heard back from us after 15 working days, email the address in the confirmation email with your online reference number and we will get back to you.

What you need to know

We issue export certificates under EU legislation. We check and verify all facts and data that applicants supply.

As an Irish company or brand owner you cannot get a food export certificate if:

• Your food products are manufactured, packaged, or bottled in another EU country or third country and the food did not come into Ireland or is not being exported from Ireland.
• Your food products are not leaving Ireland from a HSE supervised food business.

You need a different certificate for medicines and a veterinary certificate for food of animal origin. The HSE does no issue these.