Exporting Products? Legalising your Certificate of Free Sale

If you're planning to export products from the UK, many countries will require official proof that your goods are approved for sale domestically and comply with local regulations. This is where a Certificate of Free Sale becomes essential.

What is a Certificate of Free Sale?

A Certificate of Free Sale is an official document issued by UK authorities confirming that your product is legally sold and freely available in the UK. It is commonly required for food, cosmetics, supplements, and medical devices when exporting to other countries.

How to legalise your Certificate of Free Sale

For your Certificate of Free Sale to be recognised abroad, it must go through legalisation or apostille. There are two routes depending on the document you have:

1. Original Certificate The FCDO can apostille the original document directly, provided it bears a wet ink signature or an embossed seal from the issuing authority. These are the two accepted forms of authentication that confirm the document is genuine.
2. Certified Copy or Unsigned Document If your certificate is a photocopy, does not carry a wet ink signature, or has no embossed seal, it cannot be submitted for apostille in that form. In this case, a UK solicitor or notary public must certify the document first before it can proceed to apostille. 

Why legalisation matters

Legalising your Certificate of Free Sale ensures that foreign authorities accept your documents without question, reducing the risk of delays at customs or during regulatory checks. Many exporters underestimate this step and face setbacks as a result. Using a professional legalisation service can simplify the process significantly and help keep your export operations running smoothly.