FDA Adds QR Code Security Measure to Certain Food Export Certificates

Beginning June 29, 2020, the FDA export certificates for human food products, "Certificate to a Foreign Government" and "Certificate of Exportability," will include a unique QR code to enable easier verification of their authenticity.

This added security measure means that anyone who receives a certificate from a U.S. exporter can scan the QR code and see a copy of the certificate as issued by FDA. The use of QR codes will expedite verification of FDA-issued export certificates compared to the current system, which requires a stakeholder to create an account, contact FDA to activate the account, and log in to verify the authenticity of certificates. 

FDA is also updating the format of these certificates to streamline the display of certificate data. For more information and examples, visit: Examples of CFSAN-Issued Export Certificates. In conjunction with these changes, the FDA will also be launching a new portal to streamline the process for verifying the authenticity of certificates without QR codes to be released June 29. 

Although FDA will begin issuing the updated certificates on June 29, the agency requests that importing countries continue to honor and accept any certificates issued with the previous format, through their expiration dates.

Review of a certificate may be required by foreign countries as part of the process to import a product into those countries. FDA issues certain export certificates for some CFSAN-regulated food products upon request from industry. FDA does not require export certificates to export foods to foreign countries.

For more information, visit Online Verification of Export Certificates for Food.