Export certification

BAFRA facilitates the export of Animal/ plants and their products by issuing the certificates as per the requirements of the importing country. The following are the different certificates issued with the type of products to be exported:

3.1       Phytosanitary Certificate/Export Certificate/Clearance

Certificates related to the export of plant and plant products are issued as per the requirements of the importing country following the procedure below;

  1. Any individual/agency wishing to export any plant/plant products must submit an application in the prescribed format to the nearest BAFRA office along with a copy of CID of the exporter or the copy of valid export license and where applicable, a copy of the import permit issued by the importing country.
  2. If the export is by an agency, the application must be submitted with a forwarding letter signed by the head of the agency.
  3. Based on the requirement of the importing country, the consignment will be subject to physical conformity inspection, analysis and phyto-sanitary treatment.
  4. The BAFRA office will depute Inspectors and conduct inspection of the plant and plant products. During the inspection process, the consignment shall be sorted, graded, treated and tested (if required) and issue Phytosanitary Certificate (PSC) to facilitate export. PSC for export of indigenous species and non-wood forest products shall be issued only after obtaining clearance from concerned technical departments (NBC, DoFPS).
  5. Depending on the type of analysis and phyto-sanitary treatment required, the exporter may be charged a nominal fee.

3.2        Export Certificate for Food Products

BAFRA also provides inspection and certification services for the export of food products. The export certificate is issued as per the requirements of the importing country after inspection and testing of food products including  the containers, packaging material, labelling and ingredients of food exported from Bhutan.

The procedure to be followed for Export of Food Products from Bhutan is as given below;

  1. Any exporter or individual wishing to export food products from Bhutan must submit an application in the prescribed format to the nearest BAFRA office along with a copy of CID of the exporter or the copy of valid export license and where applicable, a copy of the import permit issued by the importing country.
  2. Depending on the requirement of the importing country, the consignment may be subject to physical conformity inspection and laboratory analysis by the concerned BAFRA office.
  3. Once all the requirements are fulfilled, an export certificate will be issued for export of the consignment.
  4. Depending on the type of laboratory analysis required, the exporter may be charged a nominal fee.

3.3        Veterinary Health Certificate/Zoo-sanitary Certificates for Animal/Products

BAFRA  examines and tests export consignments of animals and animal products and issues certificates as per the requirements of importing country following the procedure detailed below;

  1. Any individual/agency wishing to export any animal or animal products must submit an application in the prescribed format to the nearest BAFRA office along with a copy of CID of the exporter or the copy of valid export license and where applicable, a copy of the import permit issued by the importing country.
  2. If the export is by an agency, the application must be submitted with a forwarding letter signed by the head of the agency.
  3. Based on the requirement of the importing country, the consignment may be subject to physical conformity inspection and laboratory analysis.
  4. Once all the requirements are fulfilled, a health certificate is issued for export of the consignment.
  5. For export of live animals, the health certificate shall be issued by any Government Veterinarian after examining the health status of animals intended for export. If the veterinarian who issued the health certificate is not from BAFRA,the certificate issued will have to be endorsed by BAFRA before commencement of export.
  6. Depending on the type of laboratory analysis required, the exporter may be charged a nominal fee.

3.4        GMO Export Certificate/GMO free Certificate

  1. Depending on the requirements of the importing countries, BAFRA authorizes  export/re-export of products derived from GMO . The procedure for issuance of certificate is as given below;
  2. Any exporter or individual wishing to export/re-export products derived from GMO must submit application in the prescribed format to the nearest BAFRA office along with a copy of CID of the exporter or the copy of valid export license and where applicable, a copy of the import permit issued by the importing country.
  3. The applicant must submit the application at least fifteen (15) working days prior to the intended date of export.
  4. Depending on the requirement of the importing country, the consignment may be subject to physical conformity inspection and laboratory analysis by the concerned BAFRA office.
  5. Once all the requirements are fulfilled, an export certificate will be issued for export of the consignment.
  6.  An export certificate fee of Nu. 500/- or more (depending on the type of laboratory analysis required) will be charged on the exporter
  7. Products derived from GMOs should be exported from Bhutan only at officially designated border points.

All export application forms are available here.


Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Post Box: 1071, 

Thimphu, Bhutan, Tel: +975-02-327031/325790 Fax: +975-02-327032/335540