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Exporting food supplements from the UK

Food supplements are products for human consumption, so a certificate of free sale for them comes from the Rural Payments Agency, not DBT. Supplements with animal-derived ingredients such as collagen or gelatine may need an export health certificate through APHA. The commodity code, the CDS export declaration and proof of origin follow from how the product is classified.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Certificate of free sale
Rural Payments Agency, for food, drinks and supplements
Animal-derived ingredients
Export health certificate where one exists for the destination
Usual tariff heading
2106, food preparations, for capsules and tablets
Medicines
Export certificates from the MHRA, not the RPA
Customs
Export declaration on CDS

Before the goods leave

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Is the product a food supplement or a medicine, and which commodity code applies? Read more
  2. 2Does the destination ask for a certificate of free sale? Read more
  3. 3Does it contain an animal-derived ingredient that needs an export health certificate? Read more
  4. 4Who lodges the export declaration, and can the buyer claim preferential origin? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Certificates of free sale

The certificate an overseas authority may ask for as evidence that a product is on free sale in the UK.

  • DBT's guidance says products for human and animal consumption, such as food, drinks and supplements, get a certificate of free sale through the Rural Payments Agency.
  • The RPA application needs the exporting company's name and address, a contact, the receiving country and the product name, and can add a trader declaration.
  • Applications are made through the RPA online service. It is free, takes about 10 working days, and the certificates do not expire unless the destination sets a time limit.
  • Medicines for humans get export certificates from the MHRA.
  • A certificate of free sale is not part of UK export procedures and is not the same as an export licence.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps each certificate of free sale with the products and destinations it covers, dated, and shows where a destination's time limit is close. Ask about this

Animal-derived ingredients

When a supplement's ingredients bring it under the export health certificate system.

  • An EHC is needed to export animal products from Great Britain; gelatine is listed among products of animal origin.
  • APHA publishes certificate 8396 for collagen intended for human consumption going to the EU and Northern Ireland, applied for through EHC Online.
  • Certificate 8727 covers medical food, drink mixes and nutritional powder mixes to the USA containing amino acids from bird feathers and vitamin D3 from sheep wool grease.
  • A composite EHC is not needed where the only processed meat in a composite product is gelatine, collagen or highly refined products such as chondroitin or glucosamine.
  • If no EHC exists for a product, the exporter asks the destination's competent authority what it needs and sends its import conditions to APHA.

How we help: Compliant Always flags animal-derived ingredients in a formula against the EHCs for the route, and keeps the certificate with the lot it covers. Ask about this

Classification

The commodity code decides the duty, licences and preferential rates that apply.

  • Vitamin products for use as food supplements, in individual capsules, tablets or caplets, are classified as food preparations under heading 2106.
  • Supplements based on plant extracts, fruit concentrates, honey or fructose with added vitamins also fall under 2106; products that do not treat, cure or prevent disease are generally food preparations.
  • Vitamin or mineral preparations used to treat or prevent specific diseases, generally containing 3 times the recommended daily allowance, may be medicinal and classified in chapter 30.
  • Tonics and liquid supplements for immediate consumption are covered in chapter 22, for example heading 2202 for non-alcoholic beverages.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the commodity code with each product and the reasoning behind it, so the declaration and the origin check use the same code. Ask about this

Export declaration and origin

Clearing the goods out of the UK and giving the buyer proof of origin.

  • An export declaration is submitted on CDS, with clearance from customs before the goods leave the UK.
  • The invoice and any certificates must travel with the goods.
  • If the goods have a reduced or zero rate of duty at the destination under a trade agreement, the buyer may need proof of origin, such as a statement on origin on the invoice.
  • Imported ingredients must be sufficiently worked or processed in the UK for the finished product to originate there; suppliers' declarations can support this.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the declaration references, invoices and origin evidence for each shipment together, ready when HMRC or the buyer asks. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
ExporterThe certificate of free sale application, any EHC, the export declaration and the proof of origin.Certificates and declarations kept by shipment and dated.
ManufacturerThe formula, the ingredient sources and the evidence of where ingredients come from.Ingredient specifications and suppliers' declarations ready for the exporter.
Customs agentLodging the CDS declaration, if appointed.The commodity code and documents the agent needs, in one record.
Rural Payments Agency and APHAIssuing certificates of free sale and export health certificates.Issued certificates kept with the products they cover.

Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Most export guidance here is written for Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Exporters in Northern Ireland apply to DAERA for export health certificates, do not need one to export to the EU, and follow EU dual-use rules under the Windsor Framework.

An EORI number starting GB is needed to export from Great Britain; moving goods to or from Northern Ireland may need one starting XI.

Where are the goods going?

Most of what food supplements have to meet is set where they are sold. Each guide sets out the rules on arrival, with the official source for each.

Questions businesses ask

Who issues a certificate of free sale for food supplements in the UK?
The Rural Payments Agency. DBT's export certificate guidance sends products for human and animal consumption, such as food, drinks and supplements, to the RPA rather than DBT.
How long does a certificate of free sale take, and what does it cost?
The RPA says to allow 10 working days from applying. It is free, and the certificates do not expire unless the destination country sets a time limit.
What do I need to apply for a certificate of free sale?
The exporting company's name and address, a contact who can answer questions, the receiving country and the product name. You can add a trader declaration to the certificate.
Do supplements containing collagen or gelatine need an export health certificate?
They may. Gelatine is a product of animal origin, and APHA publishes certificate 8396 for collagen for human consumption to the EU and Northern Ireland. Check the EHC finder for the destination.
What commodity code do vitamin supplements use?
HMRC classifies vitamin products for use as food supplements, in individual capsules, tablets or caplets, as food preparations under heading 2106. Products for treating or preventing specific diseases may fall in chapter 30.
Are liquid supplements and tonics classified differently?
Yes. Tonics and liquid food supplements intended for immediate consumption are covered in chapter 22, generally heading 2202 for non-alcoholic beverages or headings 2205 and 2206.
My product is a herbal medicine. Who issues its export certificate?
Medicines for humans get export certificates from the MHRA, not the RPA. Classification may also differ: HMRC's guidance on medicinal preparations, including herbal ones, refers particularly to chapter 30.
Is a certificate of free sale an export licence?
No. DBT says a certificate of free sale is not part of UK export procedures and is not the same as an export licence. It is evidence some overseas authorities ask for.
Can my buyer claim lower duty on UK-made supplements?
If the destination has a trade agreement with the UK and the product meets its rules of origin, you can give the buyer proof of origin, such as a statement on origin. Keep the supporting records for at least 4 years.
Do I need an EORI number to export supplements?
Yes. You need an EORI number starting GB to export goods from England, Wales or Scotland, and may need one starting XI for movements to or from Northern Ireland.
How does Compliant Always help with exporting from the UK?
Our team reads the rules for the routes you ship. Compliant Always shows which export documents apply to your product, keeps them with the shipment beside what the destination asks for, and watches the sources for changes. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

Name the product and the markets you sell in. We will come back to you with what applies in the UK and what your paperwork needs to show.

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