INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW
How to Export Agricultural Products from the U.S.
Most U.S. agricultural exports need a phytosanitary certificate — an official USDA document certifying the shipment meets the destination country’s plant-health rules — plus compliance with whatever else that specific country requires for the commodity. Which agency you deal with depends on what you are shipping: plants, meat, and processed food each run through a different federal program. This guide maps those programs so you know who certifies your product and what the foreign buyer’s country will demand.
The phytosanitary certificate is the core document
For plants and plant products — grains, fruits, vegetables, seeds, and many processed plant goods — the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), through its Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program, issues the phytosanitary certificate. The certificate states that the shipment was inspected and meets the importing country’s plant-health requirements, and it reflects the U.S. obligations under the International Plant Protection Convention.
Exporters apply through the Phytosanitary Certificate Issuance and Tracking (PCIT) system, which schedules inspection, sampling, or testing and generates the certificate. Many destinations will not clear a plant-product shipment at the border without it.
Every country sets its own import requirements
A phytosanitary certificate is not a universal pass. Each country specifies its own conditions — permitted commodities, treatments, pest-freedom requirements, and import permits. APHIS maintains the Phytosanitary Export Database (PExD), a repository of foreign countries’ import requirements for U.S.-origin commodities; exporters check PExD before shipping and confirm directly with the importer when the destination’s requirements differ from what PExD documents. Many countries also require an import permit obtained by the buyer in advance.
Which agency depends on the product
“Agricultural products” spans several regulatory regimes. Match your commodity to the right agency before you start the paperwork:
| Product type | Lead agency | What it issues / requires |
|---|---|---|
| Plants, fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds | USDA APHIS (PPQ) | Phytosanitary certificate via PCIT; destination requirements via PExD |
| Meat, poultry, and egg products | USDA FSIS | Export certificate (general Form 9060-5 or country-specific forms) via PHIS; product must come from a federally inspected establishment |
| Processed foods, produce, dietary supplements | FDA | Facility registration; FDA export certificates where the buyer’s country requires them |
| Fresh-produce grading, organic claims | USDA AMS | Grading and organic certification |
| Alcohol (wine, beer, spirits) | TTB | Export permits and certificates |
For meat, poultry, and egg products, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) runs a separate export system. FSIS publishes country-by-country rules in its Export Library, and exports must be certified — using the general Form 9060-5 (Meat and Poultry Export Certificate of Wholesomeness) or a country-specific form — generated through the Public Health Information System (PHIS). Only product from federally inspected establishments is eligible.
The export paperwork
Beyond the certificate that matches your product, a typical agricultural export needs a commercial invoice, a packing list, the correct Schedule B / HTS classification, and an Electronic Export Information (EEI) filing in the Automated Export System for shipments over $2,500 per Schedule B number or any shipment requiring a license. A certificate of origin is common, and trade-agreement preferences may require additional origin documentation. Confirm the destination’s labeling and maximum-residue-limit rules early — pesticide residue limits in particular vary widely between markets.
Frequently asked questions
What is a phytosanitary certificate and do I need one? It is a USDA APHIS document certifying that a plant or plant-product shipment meets the destination country’s plant-health requirements. Most plant-product exports need one, applied for through the PCIT system.
How do I find another country’s import requirements? Check APHIS’s Phytosanitary Export Database (PExD) for U.S.-origin commodities, and confirm directly with your buyer, since many countries also require an import permit the buyer obtains.
Who certifies meat and poultry exports? USDA FSIS, not APHIS. Product must come from a federally inspected establishment and be certified through PHIS using Form 9060-5 or a country-specific form listed in the FSIS Export Library.
When do I have to file EEI? For exports over $2,500 per Schedule B number, or for any shipment that requires an export license.
For related guides, see how to export food products, or our international trade law practice page.
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