Regulations & Requirements
In addition to helping U.S. exporters navigate an array of regulations governing trade in food and agricultural products, FAS works to ensure that those regulations are predictable, transparent, and science-based.
Other Countries' Regulations and Standards
FAS's international offices publish Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards (FAIRS) reports and exporter guides for the countries they cover. Copies of these reports can be found on the individual country pages of the FAS website as well as by searching the Global Agriculture Information Network (GAIN) database.
In addition, the governments of World Trade Organization (WTO) member countries notify the WTO about changes in their domestic regulations that could impact international trade in food and agricultural products. Under WTO rules, other WTO member countries have the opportunity to evaluate these regulatory changes to determine whether they might pose sanitary/phytosanitary (SPS) concerns or technical barriers to trade (TBT). FAS maintains an online system to inform the U.S. agricultural industry regarding changes in international food and agriculture regulations that could affect U.S. exports.
U.S. Regulations and Requirements for Agricultural Exports
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
AMS’s Federal Grain Inspection Service regulates the export of grains, oilseeds, and related commodities.
AMS provides export verification for livestock, poultry, egg, and dairy products, as well as for specialty crop products.
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
For exported animal products, APHIS Veterinary Services provides certification about the animal health status of the U.S. region from which the product originates.
APHIS provides phytosanitary certification for plants and plant products exported from the United States, attesting that the products are free from pests and diseases.
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
FSIS verifies the safety of exported and imported meat, poultry, and egg products for human consumption.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
FDA provides export certificates for animal feed and animal drugs.
Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) Database
FAS provides access to a database that lists maximum acceptable levels of pesticides and veterinary drugs in food and agricultural products in the United States, as well as 70 other countries, the European Union, and the Codex Alimentarius Commission.