Certificate of Free Sale apostille

What is a Certificate of Free Sale apostille?

A CFS is an official attestation, typically issued by a US federal or state agency, confirming that a product may be freely sold in the United States. When apostilled, the document gains international recognition: the foreign regulator can confirm it came from a legitimate US authority without contacting that authority directly. The apostille path — federal (Department of State) or state (Secretary of State) — depends on which US agency issued the CFS.

When you need one

CFS apostilles are required for: registering food, beverage, or dietary supplement products with foreign food safety agencies; obtaining import permits in countries that require proof of legal sale in the country of origin; registering cosmetics or personal care products under a foreign health authority; medical-device market authorization in jurisdictions that follow the GHTF/IMDRF or similar frameworks; and satisfying foreign retail or distribution partners whose importers require authenticated product eligibility documents.

How Laurela handles it

We review your CFS to confirm the issuing authority, then route it to the correct authentication level — federal for FDA-issued letters, state for state-agency CFS documents. If you need a CFS from a state agency but do not yet have one, we can advise on where to apply. Once authenticated, we deliver the apostilled document ready for your foreign regulatory submission. Consular legalization is arranged for non-Hague destinations.

Apostille vs. embassy legalization

Most countries that require CFS documents are Hague Convention members and accept apostilles. Some markets — particularly in parts of the Middle East and Asia — are not Convention members and require the additional step of consular legalization. We determine and handle the correct path based on your destination country.

Frequently asked questions

Who issues the Certificate of Free Sale in the US?

It depends on the product. The FDA issues CFS letters for drugs, medical devices, and some food products. State departments of agriculture or commerce issue CFS for other food, beverage, or agricultural products. Confirm the correct issuing authority for your product category before applying.

How long does it take?

Timeline depends on whether authentication is at the federal or state level and whether consular legalization is also required. We provide an estimate when you place your order.

The CFS we have is from last year. Will a foreign regulator accept it?

Many regulators specify a maximum document age (often one to two years). Check the foreign authority's requirements for CFS validity before submitting an older certificate.

Can one apostilled CFS cover multiple products or product lines?

If the CFS itself lists multiple products, one apostille covers the document. If you have separate CFS documents per product, each requires its own apostille.