Certificate of Free Sale Update from DBT

On 5 February 2025, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) issued a notice for UK exporters on the impact of the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on Certificates of Free Sale (CFS) for cosmetic products.

Following entry into force of the UK’s accession to CPTPP, CFS for cosmetic products cannot be required as a condition to market, distribute or sell the product in another CPTPP member’s country, as per Article 19 of the Cosmetics Annex 8-D of CPTPP.  This means that businesses no longer need to present a CFS for cosmetic products to the authorities in:

• Brunei
• Chile
• Japan
• Malaysia
• New Zealand
• Peru
• Singapore
• Vietnam
• Australia

For now, CFS for cosmetics are still requested when exporting in Canada and Mexico.  This is because these countries are yet to ratify the UK's accession.  Following the ratification of the UK’s accession in Canada and Mexico, further notification will be published by DBT. 

Further details on how to apply for a CFS can be found on the DBT website.