Certificate of Conformity for Shipping Internationally from the USA

Although uncommon, a Certificate of Conformity (CoC), also known as a Certificate of Compliance, can be mandatory when shipping internationally from the USA to certain countries in Africa, the Middle East, and others with strict conformity programs (e.g., Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Nigeria).

What is the purpose of the Certificate of Conformity?

In certain circumstances, a Certificate of Conformity is a vital document proving that goods meet the importing country's required technical and safety standards.

Many goods are produced in countries where the safety and performance requirements of the importing country or region are not always fully understood. Certain countries demand that these requirements be implemented in conformity certificates to ensure consumers' safety in importing countries. Unsafe and unreliable products can result in injury, death, or property damage, as well as the costs associated with the product, recall compensation claims, and damage to a brand's reputation.

A Certificate of Conformity is essential when exporting regulated items such as electronics, food products, medical devices, and children's goods. Non-compliance could result in product confiscation or denial of entry at the destination port. Always budget time and costs to obtain this certificate as part of your international shipping cost planning.

What is a Certificate of Conformity used for?

A Certificate of Conformity ensures compliance with regulations like health, safety, or environmental standards. It is common for regulated products (e.g., electronics, machinery, vehicles, cosmetics)

If you ship from the U.S. to countries that require Certificates of Conformity, your exporting goods must comply with customs clearance rules at their destinations by furnishing compliance certificates. Failure to comply may sharply increase your international shipping costs due to delays, penalties, or returned shipments.

Who issues Certificates of Conformity?

It is usually issued by a third-party inspection agency or testing laboratory authorized by the importing country (e.g., SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek) and contains product details and test results, applicable standards met (e.g., CE, ISO), inspection date, and the method name of the certifying authority.

Who Should You Apply to for Certificates of Conformity?

It always depends on the country you ship to and the kind of product you export.

You should apply for a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) through an authorized inspection or certification body officially approved by the importing country. The process and the authorized provider depend on where you're shipping and what product you're exporting.

How to Apply

• Contact an authorized certification body (e.g., SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas).
• Provide product specs, test reports, and an invoice.
• Arrange for inspection or lab testing if required.
• Receive CoC once the product is verified and compliant with the importing country's standards.

Where to Start

• According to our experience, most exporters begin by:
• Asking their freight forwarder or customs broker which CoC is needed
• Visiting the certification body’s website and applying online
• Using the importing country's trade or customs portal for requirements

If a Certificate of Conformity is required, the shipper must obtain it before arranging affordable international shipping. Neither the U.S. freight forwarder nor the ocean freight carrier can assist shippers with this export document.

The Certificate of Conformity should be secured before international shipping from the USA to avoid complications. If unsure, contact your destination country consulate in the USA or ask a customs broker licensed in your destination country in advance. We may recommend requesting Intertek to determine if a certificate of conformity is required when using international shipping companies or handling affordable international shipping requests in your shipment.

A list of some countries that require certificates of conformity on certain commodities.

However, it is not complete and is for general information only. To avoid issues when recovering your shipping from the U.S. goods that arrived at the destination, double-check the necessity of a certificate of compliance for your particular shipping in advance.

ALGERIA - Certificat de contrôle de qualité is required for Algeria's exports.

BANGLADESH - Exports of second-hand capital machinery to Bangladesh may require an Inspection Certificate for Customs clearance.

BOTSWANA - For exports to Botswana to clear customs, the goods must comply with the Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) Import Inspections Regulations (SIIR) to Standards Programme.

CAMEROON - Programme d’Evaluation de la Conformité Avant Embarquement (PECAE) for Exports to Cameroon.

ECUADOR - Government securing imports, facilitating exports, and implementing importing standards.

EGYPT - GOEIC must approve shipment to issue the mandatory Certificate of Inspection for exports of Regulated Products to Egypt.

ETHIOPIA - Certificate of Compliance is mandatory.

GABON - Trading with Gabon needs to comply with the requirements of the Gabon government's office, Agence Gabonaise de Normalisation (AGANOR), Conformity Assessment Programme called PROJECT, for their goods to clear customs.

IVORY COAST - The Government of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) has introduced a Verification of Conformity program for all exports to the country.

KENYA - To assure Kenyan consumers of the safety and quality of the imported goods they buy and to protect Kenyan manufacturers from unfair competition, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), a statutory organization of the government of Kenya, has implemented guidelines called the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) to Standards Programme for exports to Kenya.

KUWAIT - The Public Authority for Industry of the State of Kuwait (PAI) implemented specific guidelines to verify the conformity of all 'Regulated Products' exported to Kuwait.' These guidelines are diligently enforced, forming the Kuwait Conformity Assurance Scheme (KUCAS). Exports to Kuwait of these products 'Regulated Products require a Technical Evaluation Report (TER) and a Technical Inspection Report (TIR) to clear customs.

MOZAMBIQUE - Regulated goods (known as the Positive List) may be subject to pre-shipment inspection in the country of export before being allowed into Mozambique. Goods on the Positive List must comply with these regulations and be accompanied by a Documento Unico Certificado (DUC).

NIGERIA - The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has implemented a strict set of guidelines for exports to Nigeria called the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP).

QATAR - Exports of vehicle spare parts, tires, and some electrical products to Qatar require a mandatory Certificate of Conformity for Customs clearance. Through the Qatar Ministry of Business and Trade – Department of Consumer Protection and the Qatar General Organization for Standards and Metrology (QGOSM), the Government of Qatar has issued strict rules regulating the import and sale of Vehicle Spare Parts and Vehicle Tyres.

RUSSIA, BELARUS, KAZAKHSTAN, ARMENIA, and KYRGYZSTAN - Compliance with Customs Union Technical Regulations is required when exporting to the Eurasian Economic Union - EAEU (former Customs Union). Member states are Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan. GOST certification systems for individual member states are gradually replacing certification to the Customs Union Technical Regulations (CUTR).

SAUDI ARABIA - A Conformity Assessment Program has been implemented for all exports to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. All products require a Certificate of Conformity, also called an SASO CoC, to be cleared through Saudi Customs.

TANZANIA - To assure Tanzanian consumers of the safety and quality of imported goods they buy and to protect Tanzanian manufacturers from unfair competition, the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), a statutory organization of the government of Tanzania, implemented guidelines called the Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity (PVoC) to Standards Programme.

UGANDA - requires a Certificate of Conformity for products regulated under the Uganda Pre-Export Verification of Conformity to Standards Programme (PVoC)