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Free Sale and Commerce Certificate

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AFLEO Consultants DGFT Regional office

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  • Deemed Export Benefits – Apply for Refund of TED/DBK/Brand rate Fixation.
  • Star Export House Certificate.
  • Free Sale & Commerce Certificate, End User Certificate.
  • Enforcement cum Adjudication Proceedings at RA Mumbai.
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  • Gems & Jewelry Schemes.
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  • FREE SALE AND COMMERCE CERTIFICATE.
  • Abeyance Cases for IEC’s in DEL.
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DGFT HQ, New Delhi

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  • Factory stuffing– Self-sealing permission. [FSP]
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  • GST Services – Refund of ITC from GST.
  • Authorized Economic Operator (AEO T1, T2 & T3) certification.
  • Reply & Follow-up of Customs Notices if any.
  • GST Services – Refund of GST for Service Exporters.
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Free Sale and Commerce Certificate

What is a Free Sale and Commerce Certificate? - An Overview

A Free Sale and Commerce Certificate provide assurance to the importing country about the status and quality of imported goods. It is issued in the Exporting country by a national regulatory authority of the country. In India, it is issued by DGFT and is also known as a certificate of export or Certificate to Foreign Governments.

A Free Sale and Commerce certificate certifies that the export goods listed in the certificate are freely sold and consumed in their country of origin and approved for export.

DGFT will only issue Free Sale Certificate [FSC] to the export of items that are not covered under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940, have usage in Nursing homes, clinics, and hospitals for medical and surgical purposes, and are not prohibited for export.

There are two categories under which Certificate is issued –

  • Certificate for the products related to Medical Devices/Instruments – This is issued by CDSCO.
  • Certificate for the products not related to Medical Devices/Instruments – This is issued by DGFT.

Now that you have a clear understanding of what a Free Sale and Commerce Certificate (FSC) is, here’s a sample format to help you visualize what the actual certificate looks like.

This sample is provided for reference purposes and showcases the key details typically included in an FSC, such as product descriptions, certifying authority, and confirmation that the listed goods are freely sold and approved for export from the country of origin.

Take a look at the sample FSC format below:

 

Industry-Specific Notes

The requirement for a Free Sale and Commerce Certificate can differ depending on the industry:

  • Medical Devices & Instruments: Importing countries often mandate an FSC as proof of safety and regulatory acceptance.
  • Healthcare & Surgical Products: Hospitals and clinics abroad usually require this certificate before procurement.
  • Food & Nutraceuticals: While DGFT issues FSCs for certain products, exporters may also need Health Certificates or Phytosanitary Certificates depending on destination country rules.
  • Cosmetics & Personal Care: In many cases, importers ask for FSC as proof that products are freely sold in India, but DGFT will not issue certificates for items under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, hence CDSCO approval may be required.

Latest Updates

  • Electronic Certificates with QR Code & UDIN:
    From 22nd February 2021, DGFT issues all Free Sale & Commerce Certificates electronically through the e-Certificate Management System. Each certificate now carries a QR code and Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN) for instant online verification by foreign authorities.
  • Updated DGFT Help File (v4.0):
    DGFT has recently released User Help File v4.0 (2025), offering exporters detailed guidance on profile setup, DSC registration, application filing, fee payment, and certificate tracking on the DGFT portal.
  • 28th April 2020 as per the notification 7/2020-2021:Clarification with respect to an application for Free Sale and Commerce certificate- The export firms are advised to send their applications for grant of Free Sale and Commerce Certificate at the official email ID of the concerned RA as per the format given in ANF 2H due to RAs are working with skeletal staff leading to delays in the issuance of the certificate.

Purpose to obtain a Free Sale and Commerce Certificate

Obtaining a Free Sale and Commerce Certificate is a fundamental task for manufacturers who wish to foray into markets other than their country of origin if the exporting country asks for it.

Free Sale and Commerce Certificate is crucial for following reasons for the manufacturers going International with their goods –

  • For verification of Manufacturer

A Free Sale and Commerce Certificate is definitive proof that the manufacturer contains a valid manufacturing license.

  • For the verification of products

Importing countries want to maintain a strict level of safety and security in their country. Therefore, they won’t allow the use of products from a manufacturer that can’t furnish proof that certain exporting products are authorized to be used in its country of origin.

  • To Verify Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Compliance

A free Sale Certificate is also authentication of the fact that the export goods in question comply with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines of International trade.

Validity and Government fee to obtain the Certificate?

The Certificate is valid for 2 years after issuance and the applicant shall be required to pay Rs 1000/- as a Government fee on the DGFT website to obtain it.

Who Issues a Free Sale Certificate in India?

In India, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry is the nodal authority responsible for issuing Free Sale and Commerce Certificates. Exporters must apply through the DGFT online portal under the Certificate Management System. It is important to note that DGFT issues these certificates only for products not covered under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940. For pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, exporters may instead require specific approvals from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

Documents Required to obtain Free Sale and Commerce Certificate

The following documents have to be arranged before proceeding with the application procedure.

  • A valid copy of the IEC copy and RCMC copy.
  • Valid manufacturing licenses Like MSME Certificate.
  • Product Brochures
  • ANF 2 I Form.
  • Other relevant Annexures.

Pre requisite for the application to get Free Sale Certificate

For the Free Sale and Commerce Certificate following requirements are there before proceeding with the application –

Pre- requisites to do the application for Free Sale Certificate
  • Profile on DGFT portal has to be linked with active Import – Export Code.
  • A valid Digital token has to be created in the system; the same can be verified from My Dashboard.
  • An RCMC has to be issued to the IEC.

Common Mistakes and Rejection Reasons

Many exporters face rejection of their Free Sale Certificate applications due to avoidable errors. The most common reasons include:

  • Incomplete documentation – missing manufacturing licenses, product permissions, or IEC/RCMC copies.
  • Mismatch of details – inconsistencies between IEC, RCMC, and manufacturing licenses.
  • Invalid Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) – expired or not properly registered on the DGFT portal.
  • Wrong product category – attempting to apply for items restricted under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940.
  • Incorrect file uploads – blurred or unreadable scanned documents.

To avoid rejection, exporters should double-check all documents, ensure DSC validity, and strictly follow DGFT’s ANF-2H format.

How to apply for a Free Sale Certificate online in India?

  • The exporter is required to access the DGFT Website, select the Certificate management from the services list.
  • Click on Start a fresh application, the application window shall consist of four tabs –
Online tabs to apply for Free Sale Commerce Certificate
  • Applicant details –This is the first tab and would contain all the basic details such as Application for, IEC number and Name, Email ID, RCMC details would be Auto Populated. All the other required details have to be filled on this page.
  • Details of Items exported under the certificate – DGFT doesn’t issue license for items of export that falls under Drug and Cosmetic Act, 1940. Exporter has to fill all the required details of items to be exported such as HSN and product description etc.
  • Attachment Tab – In the attachment section, the scan copy of documents has to be attached.
  • Declaration Tab – Read the terms and conditions carefully accept them before submitting the application.
  • Summary and Submission – On Summary page the complete information filled in previous screen can be viewed,Click on sign button attaching the Digital token to sign the application.After signing submit the application on same page.

At the end of the process, exporters should note that the approved certificate is now generated digitally on the DGFT portal with QR code and UDIN instead of a physical copy. This digital format is globally accepted for verification.

Where can I view my approved Free Sale and Commerce Certificates?

To get an approved certificate follow the following procedures –

  • Select Submitted applications from my dashboard.
  • Enter Type of Scheme – Certificate Management and type of Sub Scheme.
  • Click on Search & Click on Action.
  • View Approved Licenses.

The approved certificate will be available in PDF format with QR code and UDIN for authenticity. Importing authorities can verify its validity by scanning the QR code or entering the UDIN on the DGFT verification portal.

International Acceptance of FSC

The Free Sale and Commerce Certificate is widely recognized by regulatory authorities across the world. Importing countries rely on it as a form of assurance that the goods are legally sold and consumed in India.
However, acceptance rules may vary:

  • United States & EU: FSC is often required for medical devices, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics.
  • Middle East & Africa: Many countries request FSCs for food supplements, healthcare items, and consumer goods.
  • Asian Markets: Countries like Singapore and Malaysia usually accept DGFT-issued FSCs but may also demand additional country-specific certifications.

Exporters should always verify destination country requirements since some nations may need both FSC and product-specific approvals.

How Afleo can help you to get a Free Sale and Commerce Certificate?

At Afleo we follow a very unique methodology for obtaining A Free Sale and Commerce Certificate. We have helped hundreds of the company to get the certificate at an affordable cost. Our dedicated team of experts helps in simplifying the following procedure to obtain the Free Sale and Commerce Certificate –

  • Assistance in Error-free Documentation,
  • Online application to get the Certificate,
  • Follow up with the DGFT if required.
  • Complete assistance would be given in exporting process of clients after obtaining the Certificate.

FAQ’s

What is a free sale certificate?

A Free Sale Commerce Certificate is a certificate issued by the ministry of commerce and industry of India on the basis of national legislation stating that the goods is freely available in the country but without any confirmation that the export goods are tested for safety and effectiveness and is licensed for use in the country.

Yes, it gets expired after 2 years from the issuance date.

In India Free Sale and Commerce Certificate is issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The online application has to be done on the DGFT portal to get a Free Sale Certificate.

Yes multiple export goods can be exported under one Free Sale Commerce Certificate.

Rs 1000/- shall be required to be paid online to get Certificate on DGFT portal.

The Free Sale and Commerce certificate is valid for 2 years.

There is no provision for extension of certificate validity or time limit available for exports; it is issued only for 2 years.

Modification/Amendment to an issued Certificate is not permitted; instead a fresh application can be done if exporter wishes to get amended Certificate of Free Sale and Commerce Certificate.

All certificates are now issued digitally through the DGFT portal with a QR code and UDIN for verification.

No, amendments are not allowed. If changes are required, exporters must apply afresh with updated details.

Why Afleo Consultants?

  • We are the team of highly qualified & experienced professionals having sufficient expertise over the years in the field of DGFT Consultancy Services.
  • We only have the goal of providing very reliable services with the most competitive cost to the exporters under one roof.
  • We keep updating our clients with regular policy amendments, all the upcoming rules, and regulations in foreign trade policy.
  • We have a separate team for follow up with DGFT and have a great understanding of the working of DGFT office, which helps us in obtaining MEIS licenses without delay. 
 

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