GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 24, 2026
Health Certification for Perishable Shipments
A health certificate for perishable shipments is an official document issued by a competent authority in the country of origin, confirming that perishable goods – food products, plant material, or animal-derived products – comply with the sanitary and phytosanitary requirements of the destination country.
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Source: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/sps_e/spsund_e.htm
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Definition & Explanation
A health certificate for perishable shipments is an official document issued by a competent authority in the country of origin, confirming that perishable goods – food products, plant material, or animal-derived products – comply with the sanitary and phytosanitary requirements of the destination country. Freight forwarders and customs brokers submit this certificate at import clearance; a missing or invalid document can result in the consignment being detained or refused at the border inspection post. Depending on the commodity, additional certificates may be required: a phytosanitary certificate for plant products or a veterinary certificate for products of animal origin. It should not be confused with a certificate of origin, which attests only to where goods were produced, not to their health or safety status. Requirements regarding content and issuing authority vary significantly by destination country and must be confirmed well before shipment.
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