What is a letter of free sale?
A letter of free sale confirms that a product is freely available for sale or in development for the purpose of sale in Australia.
Some countries require a letter of free sale to support the registration of a product before it can be imported and sold in their market.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry may issue a letter of free sale for products such as pet food, rendered products, beverages, processed food and animal feed.
The letter of free sale is issued for product registration and is not a consignment specific export certificate.
Check the importing country's requirements
Understanding the importing country's requirements will help you work out:
- whether you need a letter of free sale
- who should issue it.
Before you apply for a letter of free sale, check the importing country's requirements. Some countries need a letter of free sale from Australia's competent authority, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. If the importing country does not specify that the letter must be issued by our department, a letter of free sale may be issued by a Chamber of Commerce, opens in a new tab instead.
Other agencies that can provide a letter of free sale
If your product is a medicine or supplement that is registered or listed with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), contact the TGA about export certification requirements.
Agricultural and veterinary chemical products regulated by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) should be referred to the APVMA.
We do not issue letters of free sale for these products.