The Health Certificate for Export (Certificado de Salud para Exportacion) is an official document issued by Guatemala’s MSPAS — through the Direccion de Regulacion y Control de Alimentos (DRCA) or another department depending on the product — certifying that a food, beverage or regulated product produced in Guatemala meets national sanitary standards and can be marketed in-country. Importing-country authorities require it as a sanitary guarantee before allowing the product across the border.
Quick summary: In-person filing at MSPAS / DRCA. Variable cost per the official fee schedule. Estimated time: 5 to 15 business days. Not available online — physical file required. Requires a current Sanitary Registration for the product.
Data verified against the official Catalogo Unico de Tramites del Estado, tramites.gob.gt — Service 1805.
Who Needs This Certificate
It applies to any individual or company exporting sanitarily regulated products from Guatemala:
- Processed foods (snacks, sauces, condiments, canned goods)
- Beverages (juices, soft drinks, bottled water, liquid dairy)
- Dairy products and derivatives
- Meat, fish and bakery products
- Dietary supplements and nutraceuticals
- Cosmetics and personal-care products (case-by-case)
- Coffee, cocoa, processed spices
- Any MSPAS-regulated product going to a foreign market
If your product is sold only domestically, you do not need this certificate — just the basic sanitary registration. Exporting adds this extra document.
How It Differs From Other Certificates
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Sanitary Registration | Authorization to sell the product in Guatemala |
| Sanitary License | Authorization for the producing establishment to operate |
| Health Certificate for Export | Guarantees to the importing country that the product complies with local sanitary regulation |
| Free Sale Certificate | Confirms the product is freely sold in Guatemala (sometimes requested alongside) |
Requirements
- Application letter to MSPAS / DRCA, signed by the legal representative
- Current Sanitary Registration number for the product
- Exporter data: trade name, NIT (CUI-NIT lookup), address
- Importer data in destination country
- Lot quantity and description (code, production date, expiration date)
- Pro-forma commercial invoice or export contract
- Current product label
- Valid DPI of legal representative (or passport if foreign)
- Official payment receipt per MSPAS fee schedule (Acuerdo Gubernativo 712-99)
- Current Sanitary License for the producing establishment
- Additional documents if the destination country requires its own format (e.g., USA, EU, Mexico)
Steps
- Check the destination country’s requirements. USA, EU, Mexico, Central America and others may require specific sanitary formats. Confirm with your broker or customs agent.
- Confirm your product holds a current Sanitary Registration and the establishment’s Sanitary License is valid.
- Assemble the file with all documents.
- Pay the fee at an authorized bank per the MSPAS schedule. Keep the original receipt.
- Submit the file at the DRCA window, MSPAS zone 11.
- Receive the intake receipt with file number and tentative pickup date.
- Follow up on the file. DRCA may request samples or supplementary documents depending on destination.
- Pick up the certificate signed and sealed by DRCA — ready for presentation to the importing country.
Cost and Time
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official cost | Variable per MSPAS fee schedule (Acuerdo Gubernativo 712-99) |
| Estimated time | 5-15 business days |
| Validity | Per shipment or limited period depending on destination country |
| Modality | In-person (not online) |
| Diaspora-friendly | Yes, via notarized power of attorney |
Some destination countries require the certificate to be issued no more than 30 days before shipment. Plan timing with your customs agent.
How to Apply
The procedure is not available online. You must submit the physical file at:
- DRCA — Direccion de Regulacion y Control de Alimentos
- MSPAS headquarters, zone 11, Guatemala City
- MSPAS main switchboard: 2444-7474
Official portal entry: tramites.gob.gt/servicio/1805.
For US-Based or Foreign Exporters
If you are an exporter with US commercial presence but produce in Guatemala:
- Appoint a customs agent or gestor in Guatemala with a notarized special power of attorney to file the application
- Coordinate timing with your agent: the certificate must reach customs before shipment
- If exporting to the USA, review additional FDA requirements (Prior Notice, FSVP, etc.) — the MSPAS certificate does not replace importing-country requirements
- Some US importers also request the Free Sale Certificate as a complement
Common Mistakes
- Filing without a current Sanitary Registration — DRCA will not accept the file.
- Mixing the Health Certificate with the Free Sale Certificate — they are different documents; some countries require both.
- Miscalculated timing — some certificates have a short validity (30-90 days) in the destination country.
- Outdated label — if the product label has been modified, update the Sanitary Registration first.
- Not checking destination country requirements — each country defines format and minimum data fields. Confirm with your importer before filing.
Related Procedures
- Sanitary Product Registration
- Sanitary License for Food Establishments
- Sanitary Registration Certificate Replacement
- Guatemala Import Calculator
- Guatemala government procedures hub